Washington State Department of Licensing hit by suspected data breach

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The Washington Condition Department of Licensing (DOL) claimed a suspected breach of its on the internet licensing method soon after detecting suspicious exercise. 

The breach, which transpired on January 24, could have uncovered individual information and facts relating to possibly hundreds of thousands of accredited industry experts.

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As a precautionary measure, the DOL shut down the Specialist On the web Licensing and Regulatory Info Technique (POLARIS).

The POLARIS program stores data on license holders and candidates. Moreover processing, issuing and renewing skilled and occupational license apps, the system accepts public issues from license holders.

Dependent on the style of license, its databases might involve social security figures, dates of beginning, and driver license quantities, amongst other personally-identifying data.

A DOL investigation is underway to determine regardless of whether POLARIS facts was accessed and how quite a few folks may have been influenced.

“At this time, we have no sign that any other DOL details was influenced, this kind of as driver and vehicle licensing information and facts. All other DOL units are functioning usually,” DOL wrote in a site put up.

“We are working with the Business office of Cybersecurity to secure the licensing facts and bring POLARIS back on the web as before long as probable. With the assistance and guidance of nationally recognized cyber security experts, we are investigating what occurred and what facts and people today could be influenced.”

In addition, the agency reported it would instantly notify victims if their private data experienced been accessed and offer additional support. A hotline for concerns was also released by the DOL on Friday, February 4.