[BreachExchange] Thousands of power customers' data exposed by human error

[Destry Winant]

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/oct/3/thousands-of-power-customers-data-exposed-by-human/

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - Account information about thousands of Maine
power customers was exposed last year due to a human error in
information technology.

The Portland Press Herald reports the error in Central Maine Power’s
IT department caused the release of names, addresses and former
account numbers of more than 77,000 customers. The customers were
people who were found to be ineligible for low-income bill-paying
assistance.

The Press Herald reports the information was discovered during a web
search in May by a customer who alerted CMP. The utility then took
steps to shut down access to the data and set up new security
measures.

The company emphasized that its data network wasn’t hacked or breached
from the outside. It also says personal data such as social security
numbers were not visible.