Astro Bug

MARLTON, N.J. - AstroBug -- The law firm of Console & Associates, P.C. recently announced it will be investigating the recent Jim Koons Automotive Company data breach to determine the legal remedies available to those consumers who were affected by the breach. If it turns out that Jim Koons Automotive Company failed to adequately protect sensitive consumers' data from unauthorized access, the company may be financially liable to consumers whose information was compromised as a result of the breach.

A data breach involves an unauthorized party gaining access to consumer data that was entrusted to a company. Often, data breaches stem from a person hacking into a company's network or some other type of cyberattack. While a data breach doesn't necessarily mean that the information obtained will be used for criminal purposes, it is a very real possibility, as there is no way to be sure what the party in possession of the information plans to do with it. One of the most common reasons why hackers conduct cyberattacks is to obtain information that can later be used to commit identity theft.

News of this breach is very fresh, and the investigation is still in its infancy. However, the breach raises serious concerns about the company's efforts to safely store and maintain sensitive consumer data. If it turns out that Jim Koons Automotive Company mishandled consumer data leading up to the breach or did not provide the necessary IT security measures, affected parties may be eligible for financial compensation through a class action lawsuit.

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Attorney Richard Console explains, "It's easy to place all the blame for a data breach on the person who hacks into an organization's system; however, this ignores the legal and moral obligation that these companies owe to customers. When someone gives a company their business, they trust that the information in the organization's possession will remain private—and out of the hands of criminals. While protecting consumer data requires a business to undergo some effort and expense, in our current environment of widespread hacking, this is a cost of doing business that all organizations must take seriously."

According to the most recent data breach letter issued by Jim Koons Automotive Company, on June 5, 2021, the company first noticed unusual activity on several of the company's computer systems. In response, the company enlisted the help of computer forensic specialists, who confirmed that an unauthorized party gained access to part of the company's IT network and encrypted network files.

On December 21, 2021, after a thorough review of all compromised files, the company determined that data belonging to 114,153 consumers was accessible to the unauthorized party. The compromised information includes customers':

• Full names,
• Addresses,
• Social Security numbers,
• Driver's license numbers, and
• Financial account information.

On January 14, 2022, the company sent out data breach notifications to all affected parties, informing them of the breach and what they can do to protect themselves.

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Those receiving a data breach letter from the Jim Koons Automotive Company should take the following steps to protect themselves:

1. Carefully review the letter sent by Jim Koons Automotive Company;
2. Retain a copy of the data breach notification letter;
3. Enroll in the free credit monitoring service provided by Jim Koons Automotive Company;
4. Change all passwords and security questions to online accounts;
5. Frequently review all credit card and bank account statements for any signs of fraud or unauthorized activity;
6. Monitor credit reports for any unexpected changes or signs of identity theft;
7. Contact a credit bureau to request a temporary fraud alert; and
8. Notify all banks and credit card companies of the data breach.

To learn more about this data breach, please visit https://www.myinjuryattorney.com/data-breach-alert-jim-koons-automotive-company/.

Console & Associates P.C. is dedicated to advancing consumers' privacy interests at every opportunity. The firm investigates all types of data breaches, ransomware attacks and other network intrusions to determine the legal rights of consumers who trusted corporations with their sensitive information. Consumers can reach Console & Associates, P.C. through the firm's website at https://www.myinjuryattorney.com/consumer-privacy-data-breach-lawyers/.