New Delhi — IT services company Cognizant has notified customers of a data breach that occurred on April 21, warning that some personal information may have been exposed, according to multiple media reports.
The U.S.-headquartered company said it was notifying affected individuals as a precaution and that it had found no evidence so far that the exposed information had been misused.
“While we have no reason to believe that your information was misused, we thought it prudent to make this notification,” Cognizant said in a letter to affected individuals. “We deeply regret this incident and any inconvenience to you.”
Media reports said a cybercrime group known as CoinbaseCartel claimed responsibility for the breach. The exposed information reportedly included Social Security numbers and other personal data.
Cognizant advised affected individuals that they can file a police report or place a security freeze on their credit reports at no cost. A credit freeze can restrict access to a consumer’s credit report and help reduce the risk of fraudulent accounts being opened.
The company is also offering identity theft protection services through IDX, including 24 months of credit and CyberScan monitoring, identity theft recovery assistance and up to $1 million in insurance reimbursement coverage.
“With this protection, IDX will help you resolve issues if your identity is compromised,” Cognizant said.
The company did not disclose how many people were affected by the breach.
The incident comes amid increased attention on cybersecurity in the Indian IT services industry. Tata Consultancy Services, HCLTech and Hexaware have recently denied reports alleging employee data leaks at their organizations. (Source: IANS)
