Data Breach Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

State Officials Work To Ward Off Water System Cyberattacks

West Virginia officials are teaming up to bolster cybersecurity for local water and wastewater services.

In December, national security authorities identified an increase in cyberattacks targeting local water systems across the country, prompting calls to strengthen their cyber protections.

In response, officials with the Office of Environmental Health Services (OEHS) — part of the West Virginia Department of Health Bureau of Public Health — are now coordinating cyberattack prevention initiatives with local water systems across the state.

Cyberattacks can disrupt water services, steal consumer data and install dangerous software remotely. In a Tuesday press release, State Health Officer Matthew Christiansen said that the state’s renewed cybersecurity efforts can hamper threats to local water services.

“Water systems can reduce their risk by updating computer equipment regularly, using secure passwords and resetting them regularly, requiring employee training to safeguard against an attack and ensuring clean drinking water is provided to residents,” he said.

OEHS will also work with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to spread awareness about the federal agency’s free cybersecurity assessments.

Through these efforts, officials said that they hope to bolster cybersecurity for local water systems across West Virginia.

Security Breach At W.Va. Regional Bank Puts Customers On High Alert

New Peoples Bank officials say an unauthorized person accessed bank systems in June.

New Peoples Bank officials are encouraging customers to closely monitor their accounts after a security breach interrupted services last month. Some personal information may have been accessed by an unauthorized person.

In a statement, New Peoples Bank said security protocols were in place when an unauthorized person accessed bank systems on June 9. Bank officials told customers and shareholders that their social security numbers, driver’s license numbers, financial account information, or electronic signature might have been accessed.

The breach interrupted services and computer systems on June 15. It created a backlog in services that has since been processed.

New Peoples Bank has branch locations in southern West Virginia, Virginia and Tennessee.

The bank is providing one year of free credit monitoring along with a call center. More information is available at the New Peoples Bank website.

West Virginia Workforce Department Hit By April Data Breach

West Virginia’s unemployment agency said it was affected by a security breach several months ago.

WorkForce West Virginia took its system offline after learning of a “potential security incident” with the Mid Atlantic Career Consortium Employment Services database on April 13, the agency said Tuesday.

The agency did not say how many individuals’ personal information was possibly accessed. It said those who may have had their information exposed were notified. Files were not downloaded or altered in any way, the department said.

“Upon discovery, immediate steps were taken to secure the network and WorkForce immediately began an investigation,” the department said in a statement. “An experienced computer forensic firm was hired to help determine what happened and what information may have been accessed.”