The Maine Office of the Attorney General disclosed a **data breach** targeting **Albertsons Companies, Inc.** between **December 19, 2023, and January 12, 2024**, stemming from **credential theft via a fraudulent website**. The incident compromised the **personal information of 457 individuals**, including **four Maine residents**, with **Social Security numbers (SSNs)** among the exposed data. The breach was initiated through **phishing or credential-harvesting tactics**, allowing unauthorized access to sensitive employee or customer records. While the exact scope of the attack (e.g., whether it involved internal systems or third-party vulnerabilities) remains undisclosed, the exposure of **SSNs**—a high-value target for identity theft and fraud—elevates the incident’s gravity. Such data can facilitate **financial fraud, tax fraud, or long-term identity exploitation**, posing lasting risks to affected individuals. Albertsons, a major U.S. grocery retailer, faces potential **regulatory scrutiny** (e.g., under state data breach laws) and **reputational damage**, as customers and employees may question the company’s cybersecurity safeguards. The breach underscores persistent threats from **credential-based attacks**, highlighting the need for robust **multi-factor authentication (MFA)** and **employee cybersecurity training** to mitigate similar future risks.
TPRM report: https://www.rankiteo.com/company/albertsons
"id": "alb024090625",
"linkid": "albertsons",
"type": "Breach",
"date": "12/2023",
"severity": "85",
"impact": "4",
"explanation": "Attack with significant impact with customers data leaks"{'affected_entities': [{'customers_affected': 457,
'industry': 'Retail (Grocery)',
'location': 'United States',
'name': 'Albertsons Companies, Inc.',
'type': 'Corporation'},
{'industry': 'Legal/Regulatory',
'location': 'Maine, United States',
'name': 'Maine Office of the Attorney General',
'type': 'Government Agency'}],
'attack_vector': 'Credential Theft (Fraudulent Website)',
'data_breach': {'number_of_records_exposed': 457,
'personally_identifiable_information': ['Social Security '
'numbers'],
'sensitivity_of_data': 'High (SSNs)',
'type_of_data_compromised': ['Personal Information']},
'date_publicly_disclosed': '2024-02-09',
'description': 'The Maine Office of the Attorney General reported a data '
'breach involving Albertsons Companies, Inc. The breach '
'occurred between December 19, 2023, and January 12, 2024, due '
'to credential theft from a fraudulent website, affecting a '
'total of 457 individuals, including 4 residents in Maine. '
'Personal information potentially compromised includes Social '
'Security numbers.',
'impact': {'data_compromised': ['Social Security numbers'],
'identity_theft_risk': 'High (SSNs compromised)'},
'initial_access_broker': {'entry_point': 'Fraudulent Website (Credential '
'Theft)'},
'post_incident_analysis': {'root_causes': 'Credential theft via fraudulent '
'website'},
'references': [{'date_accessed': '2024-02-09',
'source': 'Maine Office of the Attorney General'}],
'regulatory_compliance': {'regulatory_notifications': 'Maine Office of the '
'Attorney General'},
'response': {'communication_strategy': 'Public disclosure via Maine AG '
'office'},
'title': 'Albertsons Companies, Inc. Data Breach (2023-2024)',
'type': 'Data Breach'}