US space tech giant Maxar discloses employee data breach

US space tech giant Maxar discloses employee data breach

November 18, 2024 at 04:04PM

Maxar Space Systems reported a data breach where hackers accessed personal employee information, including names and Social Security numbers, via a compromised network. Immediate actions were taken once the breach was discovered on October 11, 2024. Identity protection services are offered to affected employees. No bank account information was exposed.

**Meeting Notes Takeaways:**

1. **Data Breach Incident**: Maxar Space Systems experienced a data breach, resulting in unauthorized access to personal data of employees.

2. **Timeline of Events**:
– The intrusion occurred about a week before its discovery on October 11, 2024.
– Immediate action was taken upon discovery to block further unauthorized access.

3. **Details of the Breach**:
– The breach was perpetrated by a hacker using a Hong Kong-based IP address.
– Compromised employee information includes names, home addresses, social security numbers, business contact information, gender, employment statuses, employee numbers, job titles, hire/termination dates, supervisors, and departments.
– No bank account information was affected.

4. **Response and Support**:
– Current employees affected will receive identity protection and credit monitoring services through IDShield.
– Former employees have until mid-February 2025 to enroll for identity theft protection services from IDX.

5. **Company Profile**:
– Maxar Space Systems is a significant player in the aerospace industry, known for building communication and Earth observation satellites.
– The company has contributed to major space missions, including NASA’s Psyche mission and the Artemis Moon exploration program.

6. **Future Considerations**:
– There is concern about potential impacts on proprietary technical data, though no confirmation has been provided.
– A related scraping incident involving the parent company, Maxar Technologies, was noted, where user data for GeoHIVE was claimed to be compromised.

7. **Next Steps**: Await further comments from Maxar Technologies regarding concerns over potential exposure of confidential technology data.

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