Circle K (franchisee)

In May 2024, a **data breach** affected a **Circle K franchisee**, exposing sensitive information of former employees. The incident led to a **proposed class-action lawsuit** filed by ex-workers, alleging negligence in safeguarding their personal and employment-related data. While the lawsuit has since been settled, the breach highlights vulnerabilities in the franchisee’s cybersecurity measures, particularly concerning **employee data protection**. The compromised data may have included **personally identifiable information (PII)**, such as names, addresses, Social Security numbers, or financial records, putting affected individuals at risk of identity theft or fraud. The breach did not appear to involve ransomware or customer data, but its focus on **internal employee records** suggests a targeted or systemic failure in data security protocols. The resolution of the lawsuit implies financial or reputational consequences for the franchisee, though specifics of the settlement remain undisclosed.

Source: https://www.law360.com/employment-authority/articles/2413560/data-breach-suit-against-circle-k-franchisee-wraps-up

Circle K cybersecurity rating report: https://www.rankiteo.com/company/circle-k

"id": "CIR2332823112125",
"linkid": "circle-k",
"type": "Breach",
"date": "5/2024",
"severity": "60",
"impact": "3",
"explanation": "Attack with significant impact with internal employee data leaks"

{'affected_entities': [{'industry': 'Retail (Gas & Convenience Stores)',
                        'name': 'Circle K (Franchisee)',
                        'type': 'Franchisee'}],
 'data_breach': {'personally_identifiable_information': True},
 'date_publicly_disclosed': '2024-05',
 'description': 'A group of ex-workers sued a franchisee of gas and '
                'convenience store chain Circle K over a May 2024 data breach. '
                'The proposed class action has been agreed to end.',
 'impact': {'data_compromised': True, 'legal_liabilities': True},
 'investigation_status': 'Class action lawsuit concluded (settled/dismissed)',
 'references': [{'source': 'Law360 (or similar legal news outlet, inferred '
                           'from context)'}],
 'regulatory_compliance': {'legal_actions': True},
 'title': 'Data Breach Suit Against Circle K Franchisee',
 'type': 'Data Breach'}