DALLAS – “Human error” is being blamed for a data breach that exposed the personal information of about 27.7 million people with a Texas driver’s license. Data company Vertafore said the leaked files contained personal information such as driver’s license numbers, names and addresses, and vehicle registration history. Anyone issued a Texas driver’s license prior to February 2019 could be impacted.
Retired Navy veteran Sandra Bakkethun knew she could've have been one of those drivers. The Krum resident thought something strange was occurring when her identity protection program suddenly alerted her about a mass data breach of personal information, including her driver’s license.
"At first I didn't worry too terribly much about it, but then I got to thinking, 'Wait a minute,'" said Bakkethun. "I went online to check DMV and DPS thinking, ‘Well I haven't heard anything about a hack.’"
Bakkethun said she received an alert about the data breach before state officials came out publicly announcing what happened. Vertafore had been granted access to the state files by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles and Department of Public Safety for certain usages that weren't supposed to end up online.
"They don't have financial information or your Social Security number, but they have your address from your driver’s license, they have your DMV information, your car VIN, where your car is financed," said Bakkethun. "I think what bothers me the most is the fact that the state of Texas took so long to admit it."
State officials say they're looking into the massive data breach along with law enforcement including the FBI.
Vertafore says they're offering free credit monitoring for a year for drivers who may have had their personal information exposed.