NATIONWIDE INSURANCE LATEST VICTIM OF A DATA BREACH

       Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company announced that part of its computer network has been hacked and that personal information effecting more than 1.1 million individuals has been stolen.  The data breach occurred on October 3rd.  The network that was breached is also used by Allied Insurance. Nationwide has determined that the compromised information includes names, birth dates, social security and driver’s license numbers for customers and other individuals who requested insurance quotes.  Nationwide  is currently mailing notification letters to individuals effected and offering free credit monitoring and identify theft protection for one year.  Nationwide says that it is not aware that any of the stolen information has been misused.

      This data breach once again demonstrates how the storage of customers’ information is a critical issue for all business entities.  Even though the breach was allegedly detected the day it happened and immediately contained, Nationwide will still incur significant costs for legal services, credit monitoring and identity theft protection for over one million individuals.