Wojeski & Company, a Capital Region accounting firm, experienced two data breaches in 2023 and 2024, exposing the personal information of over 4,700 New Yorkers. The breaches, including a ransomware attack, compromised sensitive data such as names, Social Security numbers, and driver’s license numbers. The firm delayed notifying victims for over a year, violating timely disclosure protocols. As part of a settlement with Attorney General Letitia James, Wojeski & Company agreed to pay $60,000, enhance cybersecurity measures (including data encryption, stricter access controls, and employee training), and offer free credit monitoring to affected individuals. The incident underscores the firm’s failure to adequately protect client data, leading to reputational damage, financial penalties, and mandatory operational reforms to prevent future breaches.
TPRM report: https://www.rankiteo.com/company/wojeski
"id": "woj0032100102125",
"linkid": "wojeski",
"type": "Ransomware",
"date": "6/2023",
"severity": "100",
"impact": "5",
"explanation": "Attack threatening the organization’s existence"{'affected_entities': [{'customers_affected': '4,700+',
'industry': 'Financial Services / Accounting',
'location': 'Capital Region, New York, USA',
'name': 'Wojeski & Company',
'type': 'Accounting Firm'}],
'customer_advisories': 'Free credit monitoring offered to affected '
'individuals.',
'data_breach': {'data_encryption': 'No (prior to breach; encryption mandated '
'post-settlement)',
'data_exfiltration': 'Yes',
'number_of_records_exposed': '4,700+',
'personally_identifiable_information': ['Names',
'Social Security '
'numbers',
'Driver’s license '
'numbers'],
'sensitivity_of_data': 'High (includes SSNs and driver’s '
'license numbers)',
'type_of_data_compromised': ['Personally Identifiable '
'Information (PII)']},
'description': 'A Capital Region accounting firm, Wojeski & Company, '
'experienced two data breaches in 2023 and 2024, exposing '
'personal information (including names, Social Security '
'numbers, and driver’s license numbers) of over 4,700 '
'individuals. The firm failed to adequately protect client '
'data, delayed victim notification by over a year, and later '
'agreed to a $60,000 settlement with the New York Attorney '
'General. The settlement mandates stronger cybersecurity '
'measures, including data encryption, improved access '
'controls, and employee training. Affected individuals were '
'offered free credit monitoring.',
'impact': {'brand_reputation_impact': 'Negative (public disclosure of '
'breaches and delayed notification)',
'data_compromised': ['Names',
'Social Security numbers',
'Driver’s license numbers',
'Other personal details'],
'financial_loss': '$60,000 (settlement)',
'identity_theft_risk': 'High (exposure of SSNs and driver’s '
'license numbers)',
'legal_liabilities': '$60,000 settlement with New York Attorney '
'General'},
'investigation_status': 'Resolved (settlement reached)',
'lessons_learned': 'Companies must prioritize data protection, implement '
'robust cybersecurity measures (e.g., encryption, access '
'controls), and ensure timely breach notifications to '
'avoid legal and reputational consequences.',
'post_incident_analysis': {'corrective_actions': ['Mandated encryption of '
'sensitive data.',
'Improved employee access '
'controls.',
'Cybersecurity training for '
'staff.',
'Settlement payment and '
'compliance with regulatory '
'requirements.'],
'root_causes': ['Inadequate data protection '
'measures (lack of encryption, '
'poor access controls).',
'Delayed breach detection or '
'response.',
'Failure to notify affected '
'individuals in a timely manner.']},
'ransomware': {'data_exfiltration': 'Yes (implied by ransomware attack '
'mention)'},
'recommendations': ['Encrypt sensitive data at rest and in transit.',
'Implement strict access controls and least-privilege '
'principles.',
'Conduct regular cybersecurity training for employees.',
'Establish and test an incident response plan to ensure '
'timely breach detection and notification.',
'Monitor systems for unauthorized access or exfiltration.',
'Offer credit monitoring or identity theft protection to '
'affected individuals.'],
'references': [{'source': 'New York Attorney General Press Release'}],
'regulatory_compliance': {'fines_imposed': '$60,000',
'legal_actions': 'Settlement agreement with New '
'York Attorney General',
'regulations_violated': ['New York data protection '
'laws (implied by Attorney '
'General settlement)'],
'regulatory_notifications': 'Delayed (over a year '
'after breach)'},
'response': {'communication_strategy': 'Delayed notification (over a year '
'after breach)',
'recovery_measures': ['Free credit monitoring for affected '
'individuals'],
'remediation_measures': ['Data encryption',
'Improved employee access controls',
'Cybersecurity training']},
'title': 'Data Breaches at Wojeski & Company Expose Personal Information of '
'Over 4,700 New Yorkers',
'type': ['Data Breach', 'Ransomware Attack']}