Texas gas stations hit by ransomware attack affecting 377000 people Fox News

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ppFox News Flash top headlines are here Check out whats clicking on FoxNewscomppCybercriminals are happy to target almost any industry where data can be stolen In many cases less prepared and less securityfocused companies are simply easier targets ppA recent ransomware attack on a company tied to dozens of gas stations across Texas shows exactly how this plays out The incident exposed highly sensitive personal data including Social Security numbers and drivers license details belonging to hundreds of thousands of people ppThe breach went undetected for days giving attackers ample time to move through internal systems and steal sensitive data If youve ever paid at the pump or shopped inside one of these convenience stores this is the kind of incident that should make you stop and pay attentionppSign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGet my best tech tips urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox Plus youll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide free when you join my CYBERGUYCOM newsletterppAccording to a disclosure filed with the Maine Attorney Generals Office Gulshan Management Services Inc reported a cybersecurity incident that impacted more than 377000 individuals Gulshan is linked to Gulshan Enterprises which operates around 150 Handi Plus and Handi Stop gas stations and convenience stores across TexasppWINDOWS 10 USERS FACE RANSOMWARE NIGHTMARE AS MICROSOFT SUPPORT ENDS IN 2025 WORLDWIDEppThe company says it detected unauthorized access to its IT systems in late September Investigators later determined that attackers had been inside the network for roughly ten days before anyone noticed The intrusion began with a phishing attack a reminder of how a single deceptive email can still open the door to massive breachesppRansomware attacks dont just hit tech companies Retailers like gas stations store sensitive customer and employee data that criminals actively target Kurt CyberGuy KnutssonppDuring that window the attackers accessed and stole personal data then deployed ransomware that encrypted files across Gulshans systems The compromised information includes names contact details Social Security numbers and drivers license numbers That combination is especially dangerous since it can be used for identity theft account takeovers and fraud that may surface months or even years laterppSo far no known ransomware group has publicly taken credit for the attack That might sound like good news but it does not necessarily change the risk for affected individuals In many ransomware cases silence can mean one of two things Either the attackers have not yet posted stolen data publicly or the victim company may have resolved the incident privatelyppGulshans filing states that it restored its systems using knownsafe backups That detail often suggests a company chose to rebuild rather than negotiate with attackers Even so once data has been copied out of a network there is no way to pull it back Whether or not the stolen information ever appears online the exposure alone puts affected people at longterm riskppThis incident also highlights a recurring pattern Retail and service businesses handle huge volumes of personal data but often rely on legacy systems and frontline employees who are prime phishing targets Gas stations may not feel like obvious hacking targets but their payment systems loyalty programs and HR databases make them valuable all the sameppWe reached out to Gulshan Management Services for comment regarding the breach but did not receive a response before our deadlineppA customer pumps gas at a gas station on Feb 13 2025 in Austin Texas  Brandon BellGetty ImagesppIf your information was exposed in this breach or any similar ransomware incident there are concrete steps you can take to reduce the falloutppIf the company offers free credit monitoring or identity protection enroll in it These services can alert you early if someone tries to open accounts or misuse your identity If nothing is offered consider signing up for a reputable identity theft protection service on your ownppIdentity Theft companies can monitor personal information like your Social Security Number SSN phone number and email address and alert you if it is being sold on the dark web or being used to open an account They can also assist you in freezing your bank and credit card accounts to prevent further unauthorized use by criminalsppSee my tips and best picks on how to protect yourself from identity theft at CyberguycomppThe less of your information thats floating around data broker sites the harder it is for criminals to target you Data removal services can help reduce your digital footprint over timeppWhile no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet a data removal service is really a smart choice They arent cheap and neither is your privacy These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites Its what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the internet By limiting the information available you reduce the risk of scammers crossreferencing data from breaches with information they might find on the dark web making it harder for them to target youppEven when no ransomware group claims responsibility stolen data can still fuel identity theft fraud and account takeovers long after a breach occurs Kurt CyberGuy KnutssonppCheck out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting CyberguycomppGet a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web CyberguycomppA password manager helps you create and store unique passwords for every account If attackers try to reuse stolen data to break into your online accounts strong unique passwords can stop that attempt coldppNext see if your email has been exposed in past breaches Our No 1 password manager pick includes a builtin breach scanner that checks whether your email address or passwords have appeared in known leaks If you discover a match immediately change any reused passwords and secure those accounts with new unique credentialsppFIBER BROADBAND GIANT INVESTIGATES BREACH AFFECTING 1M USERSppCheck out the best expertreviewed password managers of 2026 at Cyberguycompp2FA adds an extra barrier even if someone has your personal details Prioritize email banking cloud storage and shopping accounts since those are often targeted firstppStrong antivirus software can help detect phishing attempts malicious downloads and suspicious activity before it turns into a full compromise Keep realtime protection enabled and dont ignore warningsppThe best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware potentially accessing your private information is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams keeping your personal information and digital assets safeppGet my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows Mac Android and iOS devices at CyberguycomppAfter breaches like this scammers often send fake emails or texts pretending to be the affected company or a credit monitoring service Slow down verify messages independently and never click links you werent expectingppCheck your reports from all major credit bureaus for unfamiliar accounts or inquiries Youre entitled to free reports and catching issues early makes them much easier to fixppIf criminals expose your Social Security number place a credit freeze as soon as possible A credit freeze blocks lenders from opening new accounts in your name even when thieves have your personal details The credit bureaus offer freezes for free and you can temporarily lift one when you apply for credit yourself This step stops identity theft before it starts instead of alerting you after the damage is done If you prefer not to freeze your credit place a fraud alert instead A fraud alert tells lenders to verify your identity before approving credit which adds another layer of protectionppTo learn more about how to do this go to Cyberguycom and search How to freeze your credit ppIn the Gulshan attack hackers spent days inside internal systems stealing personal data before deploying ransomware that locked down files Silas Steinpicture alliance via Getty ImagesppWhen Social Security numbers are stolen tax fraud often follows Criminals can file fake tax returns in your name to steal refunds before you ever submit your paperwork An IRS Identity Protection PIN IP PIN helps prevent this by ensuring only you can file a tax return using your SSN Its a simple but powerful safeguard that can block a common form of identity theft tied to data breachesppDont just watch for new fraud proactively secure the accounts you already have Enable alerts on bank and credit card accounts for large transactions new payees or changes to contact information If your SSN or drivers license number was exposed consider calling your bank to ask about additional protections or account notes Acting early can prevent small issues from becoming major financial problemsppYour personal data doesnt just live with banks and hospitals Retailers gas stations and convenience store operators also hold information that can cause real harm if it falls into the wrong hands When attackers get in through something as simple as a phishing email and stay undetected for days the damage can spread fast You cant prevent these breaches yourself but you can limit how much power stolen data gives criminals by locking down your accounts and staying alertppDo you think everyday businesses like gas stations take cybersecurity seriously enough Let us know by writing to us at CyberguycomppCLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APPppSign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report Get my best tech tips urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox Plus youll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide free when you join my CYBERGUYCOM newsletterppCopyright 2026 CyberGuycom All rights reserved  ppKurt CyberGuy Knutsson is an awardwinning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News FOX Business beginning mornings on FOX Friends Got a tech question Get Kurts free CyberGuy Newsletter share your voice a story idea or comment at CyberGuycomppGet a daily look at whats developing in science and technology throughout the worldppSubscribedppYouve successfully subscribed to this newsletterpp
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