“Cybersecurity incident”
The credit bureau Equifax has announced it’s been hacked, resulting in what is believed to be the largest theft of personal data in history. Information on one hundred forty three million Americans may have been lost to hackers, including six hundred twenty two thousand five hundred fifty eight people here in the Granite State.
New Hampshire Attorney General Gordon MacDonald announced that his office was notified by Equifax of what’s being termed a quote unquote “cybersecurity incident.” Equifax’s computerized data files were compromised between May and July, 2017. The information accessed through this breach included: Names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses and, in some instances, driver’s license numbers. In addition, credit card numbers for approximately 209,000 U. S. consumers, and certain dispute documents with personal identifying information for approximately 182,000 consumers, were accessed.
MacDonald: Issues alert
Equifax has established a dedicated website, Equifax security 2 0 1 7 dot com where people can learn if their information has been stolen from its databases. Once on the site, click on the “Potential Impact” tab. All you have to do is enter your last name and the last six digits of your Social Security number and the site will tell you if you’ve been affected. The A G is advising people who visit the site to ensure they’re on a secure computer and an encrypted network connection. Affected U.S. consumers, like me, can get a year of free credit monitoring and other services from Equifax. Equifax has also established a dedicated call center that can be reached by dialing 8 6 6 4 4 7 7 5 5 9. The call center is open every day, including weekends, from 7:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m.
The A G’s office will be looking further into the facts and circumstances of this security breach. All security breach notices required to be filed with the Attorney General are available at the DOJ website, which we’ve linked to from this news read. You may also call the A G’s consumer information line at 8 8 8-4 6 8-4 4 5 4. Consumers with questions about protecting their identity and other consumer protection questions are encouraged to call.
News from our own backyard continues after this.
MSD: 911 ceremonies
The Manchester School District will continue its tradition of commemorating the anniversary of Nine Eleven by holding its official observance in one of its schools. This year’s memorial program will be held at the Bakersville Elementary School at the corner of Elm Street and Queen City Ave, beginning at nine thirty this morning. The kids will pay tribute through performances honoring the country and those who have given their last full measure in service to it. Mayor Ted Gatsas and members of the Board of School Committee are expected to attend.
Sununu
Governor Christopher Sununu will attend Nine Eleven ceremonies this morning in Londonderry at the David A. Hicks Central Fire Station on Mammoth Road and will deliver remarks this evening at American Legion Post 3 5 on High Street in Hampton. Sununu has also directed flags on all public buildings and grounds to fly to half-mast in observance of the terror attacks which took place sixteen years ago, which he said, quote:
are always going to fill our hearts with deep sadness for the senseless loss of life.
Meeting tonight
The Manchester Board of School Committee will technically meet twice tonight. The first meeting is at six thirty and will be a public hearing on the receipt of donations to the district. The Blance A. Bruce Trust has donated ten thousand dollars to the Webster School’s library renovation project. Longchamps Electric held a fund raiser to support the district’s programs for homeless students. They raised fourteen thousand three hundred eighty six dollars. Before the district can accept those sums, there has to be a public hearing.
Funding, service cuts
The regular meeting of the board looks fairly routine, which is usually a dangerous sign. A contract with City Year is on the agenda for approval. There will be fewer City Year core members working this year due to a shortfall in grant funding from the district. Budget writers had hoped to secure a Title I Reallocation Grant from the state Department of Education to fund the district’s share of the program, but it didn’t come through.
Want: Wants rule change
Ward Four School Board Member Leslie Want has a motion to change the board’s rules to require that motions be read by the board clerk prior to voting, which normally happens anyway. Apparently, she and Ward Six Committee Member Dan Bergeron are having trouble following the bouncing ball.
That’s NEWS from our own backyard. Girard at Large hour ___ is next!
