Data Breach Summary
Mastery Charter High School has disclosed a cybersecurity incident that occurred in September 2024, potentially compromising the personal information of students, families, and staff. The breach, which involved unauthorized access and data exfiltration, is now under investigation by law enforcement and cybersecurity experts. Affected individuals are advice to remain vigilant by monitoring their accounts, reviewing medical and insurance statements, and reporting any suspicious activity.
On September 15, 2024, Mastery Schools detected malicious encryption on parts of its internal systems. This encryption activity, commonly associated with ransomware, was immediately investigated and attributed to an unauthorized third party.
In response, Mastery took swift action by:
Shutting down affected systems
Engaging external cybersecurity professionals
Notifying federal law enforcement
Beginning a detailed forensic investigation
The investigation revealed that certain data was accessed and downloaded by the unauthorized actor. However, there is no current evidence that the stolen information has been misused or led to incidents of identity theft.
The data breach may have affected the following for various patients:
Names, addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers
Dates of birth, medical diagnoses, and treatment details
Health insurance data
Social Security numbers, in limited cases
As a precaution, Mastery Schools is offering affected individuals complimentary access to Experian IdentityWorks, a credit monitoring and identity protection service. This service includes identity restoration assistance, even if individuals choose not to activate the full membership.
To enroll or learn more about the protection services offered, recipients of the notification letter are encouraged to follow the instructions provided or reach out to the support line listed in the notice.
Enroll in the free credit monitoring and identity restoration service offered.
Check credit reports (available free once per year from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) for unusual activity.
Consider placing a fraud alert or credit freeze if SSN or insurance data was involved.
Stay alert for suspicious communications or fraud attempts.
Utilize state-specific resources, such as the MD Attorney General’s identity theft resources, if applicable
Following the breach, Mastery Charter High School faces potential class-action lawsuits from patients alleging negligence in protecting personal data. Data breach lawsuits often claim companies failed to implement adequate security measures or delayed disclosure of breaches, thereby increasing victims’ risk of financial and identity theft damages.
Affected users may be entitled to compensation for costs related to identity monitoring, fraudulent transactions, lost time addressing the breach, and emotional distress.
If you were impacted by the Mastery Charter High School data breach, you may have the right to seek compensation for the potential harm caused. Class Action U is dedicated to helping data breach victims connect with skilled attorneys who specialize in this area of law and can guide you through the legal process.
Individuals whose personal information was exposed may have valid grounds to join a class action lawsuit, allowing them to pursue restitution.
If your data was compromised, you could be entitled to compensation for:
Loss of privacy
Time spent resolving the breach
Out-of-pocket expenses
Emotional distress
By pursuing a class action lawsuit, you not only have the opportunity to recover damages but also help hold Mastery Charter High School accountable, potentially prompting them to strengthen their security measures. Reach out to Class Action U today to find out if you qualify for a data breach class action and learn more about the compensation you may be entitled to.
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