Massive Data Breach Exposes Personal Info of 61,000 Texans
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Contributed by: Drex DeFord
Summary
A data breach involving the Texas Health and Human Services Commission has exposed the personal information of over 61,000 Texans, particularly those on public assistance programs like Medicaid and food stamps. Detected on January 6, 2025, the breach was attributed to state employees who accessed sensitive data from applicants between June 2021 and December 2024. Following the incident, which came to light on November 21, 2024, the HHSC terminated the involved employees and engaged the Office of Inspector General for further investigation. The agency plans to notify affected individuals and offer two years of free credit monitoring and identity theft protection. This breach is part of a larger pattern, as the HHSC has previously experienced incidents of unauthorized access and financial theft.
