Community Alliance Data Breach Exposes Sensitive PII

Community Alliance, Inc., Community Alliance Rehabilitation Services, and Community Alliance Health Partners recently experienced a data breach that may have compromised sensitive personal and health information of individuals in their care. The breach was disclosed to the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office on December 27, 2024, and further details were shared in a notice to consumers.

While the exact number of affected individuals has not been disclosed, the breach involved unauthorized access to a range of sensitive data, including:

• Names
• Addresses
• Dates of birth
• Driver’s license numbers
• Social Security numbers
• Diagnosis and medical condition details
• Lab results
• Medications
• Health insurance information
• Provider names
• Other treatment-related information

The breach highlights the severity of risks associated with the exposure of both personal and medical data. Unfortunately, the specific method by which the breach occurred has not been disclosed, and further details about how the data was accessed remain unavailable. However, individuals whose information was potentially impacted have been notified and provided with resources to help protect their identities.

Community Alliance, Inc.'s response

In response to the breach, Community Alliance took immediate action to investigate and secure its systems. Upon discovering the incident, the organization worked to assess the scope of the breach and determine which individuals were affected. They have also notified relevant regulatory authorities, including the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office.

As part of their response, Community Alliance is offering 24 months of complimentary credit monitoring and identity protection services through Equifax. These services include access to credit reports, credit monitoring, identity restoration assistance, and up to $1,000,000 in identity theft insurance. Affected individuals have been provided with detailed instructions on how to enroll in these services.

Additionally, Community Alliance has reviewed and enhanced its data privacy and security policies to reduce the likelihood of a similar event occurring in the future.

Affected by the Community Alliance data breach?

If you have been notified that your information was part of this breach, it is important to take proactive steps to protect yourself. Here’s what you should do:

1. Enroll in the free credit monitoring services: Follow the instructions provided in the notice to enroll in Equifax’s credit monitoring and identity protection services. These services can help you monitor your credit and detect potential fraud.
2. Monitor your financial accounts: Regularly review your bank accounts, credit card statements, and other financial accounts for any unauthorized transactions or suspicious activity.
3. Check your credit reports: You are entitled to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion). Visit AnnualCreditReport.com to request your reports and review them for any inaccuracies or unfamiliar accounts.
4. Place a fraud alert or credit freeze: Consider placing a fraud alert on your credit file to warn creditors to take extra steps to verify your identity before extending credit. Alternatively, you can place a credit freeze, which prevents new creditors from accessing your credit report without your authorization. Contact the credit bureaus directly to set this up:
1. Equifax
2. Experian
3. TransUnion

1. Stay vigilant for identity theft: Be cautious of phishing attempts or fraudulent communications claiming to be from Community Alliance or related organizations. If you suspect identity theft, report it to the Federal Trade Commission at IdentityTheft.gov.
2. File a police report if necessary: If you believe you are a victim of identity theft, file a report with your local law enforcement and keep a copy for your records.

By taking these steps, you can better protect yourself against potential misuse of your personal and medical information.