It’s Pandamonium When Panda Express Is Breached

It’s Pandamonium! In April 2024, the restaurant chain Panda Express experienced a data breach that compromised the personal information of an undisclosed number of current and former employees. The breach, discovered on March 10, 2024, involved unauthorized access to the company’s corporate systems between March 7 and March 11, 2024. This incident did not impact customer data but rather focused on internal records and employee information.

The compromised data was a multi-item bowl that included names, Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, and non-driver identification card numbers. Upon detecting the breach, Panda Express quickly secured its systems, engaged third-party cybersecurity experts, and notified law enforcement to investigate the incident. The company conducted a thorough review of the affected data.

For those affected by the breach, it is crucial to take steps to protect personal information. Here’s what you can do:

1.  Monitor Your Accounts: Regularly check your bank accounts, payment card charges, and other financial statements for any unusual or unauthorized activity. Notify the financial institution immediately for resolution.

2.  Change Passwords: Update passwords for all online accounts that use the same or similar credentials as your Panda Express account. Consider using a password manager to generate and store strong passwords, keeping in mind that if that service is breached, potentially so are your passwords.

3.  Credit Monitoring: Enroll in a credit monitoring service to receive alerts about any changes to your credit report. This can help you catch any potentially fraudulent activities early. It will not prevent the activity, however. Those affected are offered a complimentary membership through CyEx's Identity Defense Total.

4.  Place a Fraud Alert: Contact one of the major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion) to place a fraud alert on your credit report. This makes it harder for identity thieves to open accounts in your name.

5.  Freeze Your Credit: Consider placing a credit freeze on your credit reports, which restricts access to your credit information and makes it more difficult for identity thieves to open new accounts. You can freeze and unfreeze them at no charge. Just remember that you will have to freeze and unfreeze them individually with each agency.

By taking these steps, you can better safeguard your personal information and mitigate the risks associated with this breach and a breach of another company that you might be included in later.