The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) announced that a significant data breach has compromised the personal details of over 423,000 Texans. This incident marks the largest cyber attack on a state agency since the Texas Tech Health Science Centers saw a breach affecting 1.4 million individuals earlier this fall. TxDOT reported discovering unusual account activity on May 12, leading to the conclusion that an account had been improperly accessed.
In addition to TxDOT’s breach, five local businesses, including CPS Energy and iHeartMedia, have reported similar data incidents that collectively impacted more than a thousand people and prompted at least three lawsuits. CPS Energy indicated that while names and other information were exposed, there was no access to their network or operational data.
iHeartMedia, which disclosed the breach to the Maine attorney general in late April, is facing legal challenges following a cyber intrusion that reportedly occurred between December 24 and December 27, 2024. Documents associated with this breach included sensitive data like Social Security numbers and financial information for at least three individuals.
Another affected entity, Bristol Bay Government Services, revealed that personal and sensitive information from employees and partners was accessed due to a security incident discovered in October last year. The firm has faced not only the data breach fallout but also significant financial losses from contract cancellations related to government cuts.
Other recent data breaches in Texas include incidents affecting CDS in Texas and Star Shuttle, which exposed the personal information of their respective clients and contractors.
To combat these ongoing cybersecurity threats, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has initiated the formation of a Texas Cyber Command, a $135.5 million initiative aimed at bolstering the state’s defenses against such attacks. This proactive measure reflects a growing recognition of the importance of cybersecurity for the protection of personal data in an increasingly digital world.
With these calls for enhanced cybersecurity measures, there is hope that Texas will become more resilient to future threats, ultimately protecting its residents’ sensitive information more effectively. The implementation of additional security protocols by affected organizations also bodes well for efforts to prevent similar breaches in the future.