{"id":100240,"date":"2025-06-21T18:17:00","date_gmt":"2025-06-22T02:17:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.trendmicro.com\/internet-safety\/?p=100240"},"modified":"2025-07-29T19:00:54","modified_gmt":"2025-07-30T03:00:54","slug":"aflac-data-breach-what-you-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.trendmicro.com\/internet-safety\/blog\/aflac-data-breach-what-you-need-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"What You Should Know About the Aflac Data Breach\u2014and How to Stay Safe"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243;][et_pb_text]<!-- divi:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Recently, Aflac\u2014one of the largest insurance companies in the U.S.\u2014reported a data breach. This means that someone broke into their systems without permission and may have taken personal information about customers.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/divi:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- divi:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>We\u2019re sharing this to help you understand what happened, why it matters, and what you can do to protect yourself.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/divi:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- divi:heading --><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Happened<\/h2>\n<p><!-- \/divi:heading --><\/p>\n<p><!-- divi:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Aflac says that on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/business\/insurer-aflac-discloses-cybersecurity-incident-2025-06-20\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">June 12<\/a>, cybercriminals accessed their U.S. systems. The company quickly stopped the attack within a few hours. However, during that time, hackers may have accessed sensitive information, such as:<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/divi:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- divi:list --><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><!-- divi:list-item --><\/p>\n<li>Social Security numbers (SSNs)<\/li>\n<p><!-- \/divi:list-item --><\/p>\n<p><!-- divi:list-item --><\/p>\n<li>Health records<\/li>\n<p><!-- \/divi:list-item --><\/p>\n<p><!-- divi:list-item --><\/p>\n<li>Insurance claims<\/li>\n<p><!-- \/divi:list-item --><\/p>\n<p><!-- divi:list-item --><\/p>\n<li>Contact information<\/li>\n<p><!-- \/divi:list-item --><\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/divi:list --><\/p>\n<p><!-- divi:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Aflac is now offering <a href=\"https:\/\/newsroom.aflac.com\/2025-06-20-Aflac-Incorporated-Discloses-Cybersecurity-Incident\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">24 months<\/a> of free identity protection services to help people who may have been affected by asking them to contact their call center.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/divi:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- divi:heading --><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why This Matters<\/h2>\n<p><!-- \/divi:heading --><\/p>\n<p><!-- divi:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Your personal information\u2014like your Social Security number or health records\u2014is very valuable to criminals. They can use it to:<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/divi:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- divi:list --><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><!-- divi:list-item --><\/p>\n<li>Open new accounts in your name<\/li>\n<p><!-- \/divi:list-item --><\/p>\n<p><!-- divi:list-item --><\/p>\n<li>File fake tax returns<\/li>\n<p><!-- \/divi:list-item --><\/p>\n<p><!-- divi:list-item --><\/p>\n<li>Commit medical or insurance fraud<\/li>\n<p><!-- \/divi:list-item --><\/p>\n<p><!-- divi:list-item --><\/p>\n<li>Trick you into giving up more information (a tactic known as phishing)<\/li>\n<p><!-- \/divi:list-item --><\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/divi:list --><\/p>\n<p><!-- divi:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Even if your data hasn\u2019t been used yet, taking action now can help you avoid problems later.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/divi:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- divi:heading --><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What You Can Do Right Now<\/h2>\n<p><!-- \/divi:heading --><\/p>\n<p><!-- divi:html --><\/p>\n<style>\n#left-area .entry-content ol>li {\nmargin-left: 1em;\n}\n<\/style>\n<p><!-- \/divi:html --><\/p>\n<p><!-- divi:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Here are six steps you can take to protect your identity and personal information:<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/divi:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- divi:list {\"ordered\":true} --><\/p>\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><!-- divi:list-item --><\/p>\n<li><strong>Sign Up for Identity Protection<\/strong><br \/>If Aflac or another company offers it for free, use it. These services can monitor your credit, alert you to fraud, and help you recover if something goes wrong.<\/li>\n<p><!-- \/divi:list-item --><\/p>\n<p><!-- divi:list-item --><\/p>\n<li><strong>Freeze Your Credit<\/strong><br \/>A credit freeze prevents criminals from opening new accounts in your name. It\u2019s free and easy to do at all three major credit bureaus:<!-- divi:list -->\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><!-- divi:list-item --><\/p>\n<li>Equifax<\/li>\n<p><!-- \/divi:list-item --><\/p>\n<p><!-- divi:list-item --><\/p>\n<li>Experian<\/li>\n<p><!-- \/divi:list-item --><\/p>\n<p><!-- divi:list-item --><\/p>\n<li>TransUnion<\/li>\n<p><!-- \/divi:list-item --><\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/divi:list --><\/li>\n<p><!-- \/divi:list-item --><\/p>\n<p><!-- divi:list-item --><\/p>\n<li><strong>Use Strong Passwords and MFA<\/strong><br \/>Don\u2019t reuse passwords. Create a strong, unique password for each account. Turn on MFA wherever possible to add extra protection.<\/li>\n<p><!-- \/divi:list-item --><\/p>\n<p><!-- divi:list-item --><\/p>\n<li><strong>Check Your Credit and Bank Accounts<\/strong><br \/>Watch for any charges you didn\u2019t make or new accounts you didn\u2019t open. You can get a free credit report from each bureau once a year at <a href=\"http:\/\/annualcreditreport.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">AnnualCreditReport.com<\/a>.<\/li>\n<p><!-- \/divi:list-item --><\/p>\n<p><!-- divi:list-item --><\/p>\n<li><strong>Be Careful with Emails and Phone Calls<\/strong><br \/>Scammers often contact people after breaches. Don\u2019t click on links in suspicious emails or give out personal information unless you\u2019re sure who you\u2019re talking to.<\/li>\n<p><!-- \/divi:list-item --><\/p>\n<p><!-- divi:list-item --><\/p>\n<li><strong>Report Any Problems Immediately<\/strong><br \/>If you think someone is misusing your information, report it at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.identitytheft.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">IdentityTheft.gov<\/a>. They\u2019ll help you create a recovery plan and walk you through the steps.<\/li>\n<p><!-- \/divi:list-item --><\/ol>\n<p><!-- \/divi:list --><\/p>\n<p><!-- divi:heading --><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Is MFA (Also Called 2FA)?<\/h2>\n<p><!-- \/divi:heading --><\/p>\n<p><!-- divi:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Multi-factor authentication (MFA), also known as two-factor authentication (2FA), adds a second step when logging into your online accounts. After entering your password, you must also confirm your identity in another way.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/divi:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- divi:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>This second step might include:<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/divi:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- divi:list --><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><!-- divi:list-item --><\/p>\n<li>A code sent to your phone by text or from an authenticator app<\/li>\n<p><!-- \/divi:list-item --><\/p>\n<p><!-- divi:list-item --><\/p>\n<li>A fingerprint or face scan<\/li>\n<p><!-- \/divi:list-item --><\/p>\n<p><!-- divi:list-item --><\/p>\n<li>A physical device, like a USB security key<\/li>\n<p><!-- \/divi:list-item --><\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/divi:list --><\/p>\n<p><!-- divi:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>This extra layer of protection makes it much harder for hackers to get into your accounts, even if they know your password.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/divi:paragraph -->[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><div class=\"et_pb_section et_pb_section_0 et_section_regular\" >\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_row et_pb_row_0 et_pb_row_empty\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_0  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div> Recently, Aflac\u2014one of the largest insurance companies in the U.S.\u2014reported a data breach. This means that someone broke into their systems without permission and may have taken personal information about customers. We\u2019re sharing this to help you understand what happened, why it matters, and what you can do to protect yourself. What Happened Aflac [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":100241,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Recently, Aflac\u2014one of the largest insurance companies in the U.S.\u2014reported a data breach. This means that someone broke into their systems without permission and may have taken personal information about customers.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>We\u2019re sharing this to help you understand what happened, why it matters, and what you can do to protect yourself.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Happened<\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Aflac says that on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/business\/insurer-aflac-discloses-cybersecurity-incident-2025-06-20\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">June 12<\/a>, cybercriminals accessed their U.S. systems. The company quickly stopped the attack within a few hours. However, during that time, hackers may have accessed sensitive information, such as:<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list -->\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>Social Security numbers (SSNs)<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>Health records<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>Insurance claims<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>Contact information<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/ul>\n<!-- \/wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Aflac is now offering <a href=\"https:\/\/newsroom.aflac.com\/2025-06-20-Aflac-Incorporated-Discloses-Cybersecurity-Incident\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">24 months<\/a> of free identity protection services to help people who may have been affected by asking them to contact their call center.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why This Matters<\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Your personal information\u2014like your Social Security number or health records\u2014is very valuable to criminals. They can use it to:<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list -->\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>Open new accounts in your name<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>File fake tax returns<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>Commit medical or insurance fraud<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>Trick you into giving up more information (a tactic known as phishing)<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/ul>\n<!-- \/wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Even if your data hasn\u2019t been used yet, taking action now can help you avoid problems later.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What You Can Do Right Now<\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:html -->\n<style>\n#left-area .entry-content ol>li {\nmargin-left: 1em;\n}\n<\/style>\n<!-- \/wp:html -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Here are six steps you can take to protect your identity and personal information:<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"ordered\":true} -->\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><strong>Sign Up for Identity Protection<\/strong><br>If Aflac or another company offers it for free, use it. These services can monitor your credit, alert you to fraud, and help you recover if something goes wrong.<br><\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><strong>Freeze Your Credit<\/strong><br>A credit freeze prevents criminals from opening new accounts in your name. It\u2019s free and easy to do at all three major credit bureaus:<!-- wp:list -->\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>Equifax<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>Experian<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>TransUnion<br><\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/ul>\n<!-- \/wp:list --><\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><strong>Use Strong Passwords and MFA<\/strong><br>Don\u2019t reuse passwords. Create a strong, unique password for each account. Turn on MFA wherever possible to add extra protection.<br><\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><strong>Check Your Credit and Bank Accounts<\/strong><br>Watch for any charges you didn\u2019t make or new accounts you didn\u2019t open. You can get a free credit report from each bureau once a year at <a href=\"http:\/\/annualcreditreport.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">AnnualCreditReport.com<\/a>.<br><\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><strong>Be Careful with Emails and Phone Calls<\/strong><br>Scammers often contact people after breaches. Don\u2019t click on links in suspicious emails or give out personal information unless you\u2019re sure who you\u2019re talking to.<br><\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><strong>Report Any Problems Immediately<\/strong><br>If you think someone is misusing your information, report it at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.identitytheft.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">IdentityTheft.gov<\/a>. They\u2019ll help you create a recovery plan and walk you through the steps.<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/ol>\n<!-- \/wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Is MFA (Also Called 2FA)?<\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Multi-factor authentication (MFA), also known as two-factor authentication (2FA), adds a second step when logging into your online accounts. After entering your password, you must also confirm your identity in another way.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>This second step might include:<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list -->\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>A code sent to your phone by text or from an authenticator app<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>A fingerprint or face scan<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>A physical device, like a USB security key<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/ul>\n<!-- \/wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>This extra layer of protection makes it much harder for hackers to get into your accounts, even if they know your password.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->","_et_gb_content_width":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[762,3,4],"tags":[832,833,834,753],"class_list":["post-100240","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-adults","category-for-parents","category-for-teachers","tag-aflac","tag-data-breach","tag-identity-protection","tag-identity-theft","wpautop"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.trendmicro.com\/internet-safety\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100240","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.trendmicro.com\/internet-safety\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.trendmicro.com\/internet-safety\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.trendmicro.com\/internet-safety\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.trendmicro.com\/internet-safety\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=100240"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.trendmicro.com\/internet-safety\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100240\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":100640,"href":"https:\/\/www.trendmicro.com\/internet-safety\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100240\/revisions\/100640"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.trendmicro.com\/internet-safety\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/100241"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.trendmicro.com\/internet-safety\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=100240"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.trendmicro.com\/internet-safety\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=100240"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.trendmicro.com\/internet-safety\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=100240"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}