Erie Insurance is making significant strides towards restoring normal business operations following a cyber attack that disrupted its systems on June 7. Alongside Aflac and Philadelphia Insurance Companies, Erie was one of the three insurance companies targeted in a recent spate of cyber incidents.
In a Monday update, Erie Insurance reported that, after a comprehensive review conducted both internally and with external partners, several critical business systems have been safely reconnected. At this time, the company has confirmed that there are no ransomware demands or ongoing cyber threats.
The company has emphasized the seriousness of the situation, expressing its commitment to thoroughly investigate any potential impact on customer data. Erie advises customers to remain vigilant about personal security and report any suspicious activities to their financial institutions. The company will not contact customers via phone or email to request payments and urges them to be cautious about sharing personal information.
Erie’s initial alert regarding the network outage occurred on June 8, but it was not until June 11 that the company disclosed the unusual network activity, prompting immediate safeguarding measures.
In a related note, Aflac has also reported a breach of its network, indicating that customer personal information may have been accessed. Aflac stated that it took quick action to contain the breach and that business operations remain unaffected. The company has engaged cybersecurity experts to assist in addressing the matter.
Similarly, Philadelphia Insurance Companies has faced its cybersecurity incident but continues to manage claims and customer communications. The evolving situation within the insurance sector has raised awareness about the need for robust cybersecurity measures.
The insurance industry is increasingly under threat, as highlighted by Google Threat Intelligence Group’s chief analyst, John Hultquist, who noted the targeting of insurers by threat actors such as Scattered Spider. This organization has a notable history of attacking clustered industries, leading to heightened vigilance across the sector.
The proactive responses from these companies underline their commitment to protecting customer data and maintaining service continuity despite the challenges posed by these cyber attacks.