Data loss numbers continue to rise...

The Bank of New York Mellon has admitted that the number of its customers hit by a data breach was much larger than previously stated...about 8 million more.

 BNY Mellon, told customers in May that 4.5 million customer information including, names, addresses, dates of birth and Social Security numbers, had been compromised after two sets of tape backups were discovered missing.

However, it has now increased that figure to 12.5 million.

According to the Connecticut Post, Bank of New York Mellon shocked Connecticut officials this week when it revealed there could be an additional 8 million people or businesses nationally left vulnerable to a data breach first discovered in February.

BNY originally told the state the personal information of more than 4 million people was on several data tapes the bank's Share-owners Services couldn't find in February. The tapes were being moved to a secure vault; the bank hasn't been able to locate them.

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This week's headlines include more "reported" data loss...

Reynoldsburg Ohio City School District - 8/28
Stolen laptop contains names, addresses, and Social Security numbers of 4,259

Kansas State University - Aug. 27
Stolen document contains names and Social Security numbers of 86

Prince William Co. Public Schools - Aug. 26
Confidential information for more than 2,600 exposed through file-sharing program

Graphic Data, Royal Bank of Scotland, NatWest, American Express - Aug. 26
Drive purchased on eBay contains personal and account details of around one million

Pennsylvania Public Welfare Department - Aug. 26
2,845 welfare renewal packets sent to wrong mailing addresses

Source: Attrition.org

See earlier blogs: ...Reported Date Breaches blast past 2007

Are you one of tens of millions to be notified...?

The best way to prevent and identity theft from occurring is to prepare for one!