US-Based Dish TV Loses Data of 3 Lakh Workers In Ransomware Attack

Dish TV Hacked: US-based Satellite TV company lost data of its 300,000 workers in a ransomware attack. The company has confirmed this cyberattack.

US-based satellite television provider Dish has confirmed that it fell victim to a ransomware attack in February, resulting in the theft of personal information belonging to approximately 300,000 employees. 

The company, in a data breach notification submitted to Maine’s attorney general, clarified that customer databases remained unaffected, but hackers managed to gain unauthorized access to a significant number of employee-related records.

Dish, which currently employs around 16,000 individuals, disclosed that the breach impacted former employees, as well as family members of employees and a limited number of other individuals. 

The breach notification arrives several months after the initial confirmation of the cyberattack, during which Dish refrained from disclosing whether customers or employees had been affected.

The data breach notification reveals that hackers obtain sensitive information, including driver’s license numbers and various forms of identification. 

Dish assured those affected in a letter that the extracted data had been deleted, providing some reassurance regarding the protection of their personal information.

In a separate cyber attack, a US-based prominent pharmacy service provider, PharMerica disclosed a data breach compromising the personal data of nearly six million patients. 

Suspicious activity was discovered on PharMerica’s computer network on March 14, prompting the disclosure.

These incidents highlight the persistent threat posed by cybercriminals and the potential risks associated with ransomware attacks. 

The theft of employee data in Dish’s case raises concerns about the privacy and security of individuals’ personal information. 

Such breaches can lead to various forms of identity theft, fraud, and other malicious activities.

Companies and organizations must prioritize robust cybersecurity measures to safeguard sensitive data and protect against potential cyber threats. 

Regular security audits, employee training on cybersecurity best practices, and the implementation of strong encryption and multi-factor authentication are crucial steps in mitigating the risk of data breaches. 

Timely breach notifications and swift remedial actions are also essential to maintain trust and transparency with customers and employees affected by such incidents.