Georgia Department of Human Services reports data breach

The Georgia Department of Human Services is reporting a data breach that potentially exposed sensitive personal information of residents after unauthorized actors gained access to multiple employee email accounts containing confidential data. 

Georgia Technology Authority, the state agency responsible for managing DHS email systems, discovered that its email services provider had been compromised, allowing unauthorized access to certain DHS employee inboxes.

The affected email accounts were secured. The investigation in collaboration with the Georgia Technology Authority and other state partners confirmed that personal and sensitive data was exposed during the attack. Exposed data includes:

• Names
• Social Security numbers
• Driver's license or state identification numbers
• Dates of birth
• Financial account information
• Medical and health insurance information
• Medicare identification numbers
• Medicaid identification numbers

The number of affected individuals is not disclosed. The department has mailed notifications to impacted individuals whose current addresses could be verified, providing guidance on how to protect their personal information.

Anyone with questions or seeking more information can visit dhs.georgia.gov or contact the department's toll-free dedicated assistance line at 1-800-405-6108, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time, excluding holidays.