MARLTON, N.J. - Jan. 31, 2022 - PRLog -- In recent news, the law firm of Console & Associates, P.C. announced it is exploring the possibility of a data breach class action lawsuit against Morley Companies, Inc. following a data breach resulting in the consumer data of more than 13,500 individuals being compromised. If evidence emerges that Morley Companies, Inc. was negligent in how the company stored or maintained consumer data leading up to the breach, it may be financially liable through a data breach class action lawsuit.

This is not the first data breach to make headlines over the past few months. However, there is widespread misunderstanding among consumers about the very real risks data breaches such as this one present. A data breach occurs when an unauthorized party, often a hacker, gains access to a company's computer systems. While there is no way to know why a hacker orchestrates a cyber-attack, often, it is with the intent of obtaining consumer data located on a company's computer network. While there are many ways in which unauthorized parties can orchestrate a data breach, they often involve a person hacking into a company's network and then either removing data or installing harmful software on the network.

The Morley Companies, Inc. data breach was only recently announced, and this is a developing story. However, the situation raises legitimate concerns about Morley Companies' efforts to keep consumer data secure. If it turns out that the company failed to implement an adequate system to protect consumer privacy, those whose information was compromised may be eligible for financial compensation.

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 consumers. When someone gives an organization their information, they trust that the organization will ensure the information remains private—and out of the hands of criminals. While protecting consumer data requires an organization 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 Morley Companies, on August 1, 2021, the company first discovered unusual activity affecting the organization's computers. In response, the company hired cybersecurity experts to conduct a follow-up investigation. The investigation revealed that an unknown actor "may have gained access to and obtained data from the Morley network without authorization." Ultimately, on December 22, 2021, the company determined that the following information pertaining to 13,630 individuals was compromised:

• Full names,
• Dates of birth,
• Social Security numbers,
• Driver's license numbers, and
• Health information.

1. Carefully review the letter sent by Morley Companies, Inc.;
2. Retain a copy of the data breach notification letter;
3. Enroll in the free credit monitoring service provided by Morley Companies, Inc.;
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.