Posted On February 22, 2022 Consumer Privacy & Data Breaches

Data Breach Alert: Manhattan School of Music

February 22, 2022 – Recently, Manhattan School of Music announced that it experienced a data security incident stemming from unauthorized access to an employee’s email account. As a result, the sensitive information of 6,500 individuals was compromised. Those impacted by a data breach should be sure they understand what happened, what their rights are, and how they can pursue them. The data breach lawyers at Console & Associates, P.C. are actively investigating this security breach. As a part of the investigative process, our attorneys will be interviewing any victims of the breach to determine what harm was caused and whether they are eligible to bring a data breach class action lawsuit against Manhattan School of Music.

What We Know So Far About the Manhattan School of Music Breach

According to a letter sent to those impacted by the recent breach, the Manhattan School of Music learned of suspicious activity regarding an employee’s email account on June 17, 2021. The School then launched an internal investigation to learn more about the incident. Subsequently, the Manhattan School of Music confirmed that between April 17, 2021 and June 17, 2021, an unauthorized party gained access to the employee’s email account.

Upon learning of the security breach, Manhattan School of Music then reviewed the affected employee’s email account to determine what consumer information may have been compromised. The School completed this process on November 23, 2021. While the compromised information varies by consumer, it may include affected parties’ names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and financial account information. The Manhattan School of Music data breach is believed to have affected as many as 6,500 people.

February 18, 2022, Manhattan School of Music began sending out data breach notification letters to all individuals whose information was contained in the affected files.

Manhattan School of Music (“MSM”) is a music conservatory located in New York City, NY. The School focuses on classical music, jazz and musical theater. MSM offers the following degrees: Bachelor of Music, Master of Music, Doctor of Musical Arts, Professional Studies Certificate, and Artist Diploma. The student body consists of 961 students from 38 states and 46 countries.

Can Those Whose Data Was Leaked Pursue Legal Action Against a School?

When you allowed Manhattan School of Music access to your personal data, you trusted the school to keep your sensitive information safe. However, news of the Manhattan School of Music data breach raises some very serious questions about the school’s data security measures and whether it could have done more to prevent this type of cyber-attack.

Regardless of the industry, all businesses have a legal obligation to protect consumer information in their possession. Although creating and maintaining a data security system is costly, this is a necessary expense given the frequency with which cyberattacks occur.

Consumers whose personal, identifying, financial or healthcare-related data was compromised in a data breach can pursue legal action against an organization that misused or mishandled their information. However, the investigation into the Manhattan School of Music breach is only in its beginning phases. For that reason, it is too early to tell if Manhattan School of Music was legally responsible for the breach. However, our data breach attorneys are investigating the Manhattan School of Music security breach to determine the potential legal remedies of those affected.

If you have questions about your ability to pursue a data breach class action lawsuit against Manhattan School of Music, contact a data breach attorney as soon as possible.

What to Do If You Received a Data Breach Notification from Manhattan School of Music

If you receive a data breach notification from the Manhattan School of Music in the coming weeks, it means your personal data was among that which was compromised in the recent cyberattack. It also means a cybercriminal may have had access to—and may have stolen—your personal data. Given the risks involved, it is important you remain vigilant by taking the following steps:

1. Figure Out What Information Was Stolen: Carefully review the data breach letter sent by Manhattan School of Music, keeping in mind the information you provided to the school as well as the type of data that was compromised in the breach. You should also take a copy of the data breach letter and keep it for your records. Of course, data breach letters are not always easy to understand. A consumer privacy lawyer can help victims of a data breach understand what was compromised and how to protect themselves.
2. Prevent the Hacker from Accessing Your Accounts: Once you determine the scope of the breach and how it affected you, you should take all steps to prevent cybercriminals from accessing your credit or financial accounts. For example, you should change all passwords and security questions for your online accounts. You should also consider setting up multi-factor authentication where it is available.
3. Protect Your Credit and Your Financial Accounts: In the wake of a data breach, companies usually provide free credit monitoring services for a specified period of time. This is not a gimmick, and you do not give up any rights by taking an organization up on their offer. Additionally, you should contact one of the three main credit bureaus to request a copy of your credit report. Even if you do not notice any signs of fraud or unauthorized activity, it is a good idea to request a fraud alert. Fraud alerts are free and serve as a red flag to potential lenders and creditors that your information was compromised.
4. Consider a Credit Freeze: A credit freeze prevents access to your credit report unless you specifically authorize it. Credit freezes are free and last until you remove them. While placing a credit freeze on your accounts may initially seem like a drastic measure, according to the Identity Theft Resource Center (“ITRC”), doing so is the “single most effective way to prevent a new credit/financial account from being opened.” However, ITRC reports that just 3% of consumers whose information is leaked place a freeze on their accounts. Once a credit freeze is in place, you can temporarily lift the freeze if you need to apply for any type of credit.
5. Regularly Monitor Your Credit Report and Financial Accounts: Protecting yourself in the wake of a data breach is not a one-time task. You should continually monitor your credit report and all financial accounts, keeping an eye out for any signs of unauthorized activity or fraud. You may also consider calling your banks and credit card companies to report the fact that your information was compromised in a data breach.

If You Have Questions About Your Rights Following the MSM Data Breach, Console & Associates, P.C. Can Help

At Console & Associates, P.C., our consumer privacy lawyers monitor all security and data breaches to help affected consumers pursue their legal remedies. We offer free consultations to victims of data breaches and can explain your rights in clear, understandable terms so you can make an informed decision about how to proceed with your case. If you’ve been affected by the Manhattan School of Music data breach or any other data security incident, Console & Associates, P.C., will investigate your case at no charge and offer you thorough advice about how to most effectively proceed with your case. If you decide to bring a case, we only get paid if you do. If your claim is successful, any legal fees are either paid by the defendant or come out of the funds recovered from the defendant. If your claim doesn’t result in a recovery, you will pay nothing.