Florida education department says data breach may affect 4.9 million people

The Florida Department of Education says a breach of its student financial aid website may have exposed personal information, including Social Security numbers, belonging to approximately 4.9 million people. (Getty Images)

Student financial aid

Social Security numbers

Criminal investigation

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — The Florida Department of Education says a breach of its student financial aid website may have exposed personal information, including Social Security numbers , belonging to approximately 4.9 million people.

The department said staff learned of unauthorized criminal access to the Florida Student Financial Aid website on Oct. 19. It activated cybersecurity response protocols, stopped the unauthorized activity and secured its systems, according to the department’s data breach notice.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Florida Digital Service are working with the department as part of its response. FLDOE said the incident is an ongoing criminal investigation and that it will release more information as details are verified. The department has not publicly identified a suspect or said how the intrusion occurred.

The department said the incident appears limited to the financial aid website. It said current financial aid, tuition payments and eligibility for scholarships, grants or student loans will not be affected.

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People who may be affected are encouraged to monitor financial and online accounts, review statements and credit reports, and consider placing a fraud alert or credit freeze with a credit bureau. Free credit reports are available at AnnualCreditReport.com or by calling 1-877-322-8228 . FLDOE lists information for the three major credit bureaus and accepts questions at [email protected] .

The department also directs people to the Federal Trade Commission’s identity theft resources .