Ransomware attack exposes Social Security numbers at major gas station chain

Cybercriminals are blessed to people astir immoderate manufacture wherever information tin beryllium stolen. In galore cases, little prepared and little security-focused companies are simply easier targets. 

A caller ransomware onslaught connected a institution tied to dozens of state stations crossed Texas shows precisely however this plays out. The incidental exposed highly delicate idiosyncratic data, including Social Security numbers and driver's licence details, belonging to hundreds of thousands of people. 

The breach went undetected for days, giving attackers ample clip to determination done interior systems and bargain delicate data. If you've ever paid astatine the pump oregon shopped wrong 1 of these convenience stores, this is the benignant of incidental that should marque you halt and wage attention.

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What happened successful the Gulshan ransomware attack

According to a disclosure filed with the Maine Attorney General's Office, Gulshan Management Services, Inc. reported a cybersecurity incidental that impacted much than 377,000 individuals. Gulshan is linked to Gulshan Enterprises, which operates astir 150 Handi Plus and Handi Stop state stations and convenience stores crossed Texas.

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The institution says it detected unauthorized entree to its IT systems successful precocious September. Investigators aboriginal determined that attackers had been wrong the web for astir 10 days earlier anyone noticed. The intrusion began with a phishing attack, a reminder of however a azygous deceptive email tin inactive unfastened the doorway to monolithic breaches.

Ransomware attacks don’t conscionable deed tech companies. Retailers similar state stations store delicate lawsuit and worker information that criminals actively target. (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)

During that window, the attackers accessed and stole idiosyncratic data, past deployed ransomware that encrypted files crossed Gulshan's systems. The compromised accusation includes names, interaction details, Social Security numbers and driver's licence numbers. That operation is particularly dangerous, since it tin beryllium utilized for individuality theft, relationship takeovers and fraud that whitethorn aboveground months oregon adjacent years later.

Why the deficiency of a ransomware assertion inactive matters

So far, nary known ransomware radical has publically taken recognition for the attack. That mightiness dependable similar bully news, but it does not needfully alteration the hazard for affected individuals. In galore ransomware cases, soundlessness tin mean 1 of 2 things. Either the attackers person not yet posted stolen information publicly, oregon the unfortunate institution whitethorn person resolved the incidental privately.

Gulshan's filing states that it restored its systems utilizing known-safe backups. That item often suggests a institution chose to rebuild alternatively than negociate with attackers. Even so, erstwhile information has been copied retired of a network, determination is nary mode to propulsion it back. Whether oregon not the stolen accusation ever appears online, the vulnerability unsocial puts affected radical astatine semipermanent risk.

This incidental besides highlights a recurring pattern. Retail and work businesses grip immense volumes of idiosyncratic information but often trust connected bequest systems and frontline employees who are premier phishing targets. Gas stations whitethorn not consciousness similar evident hacking targets, but their outgo systems, loyalty programs and HR databases marque them invaluable each the same.

We reached retired to Gulshan Management Services for remark regarding the breach, but did not person a effect earlier our deadline.

A lawsuit pumps state astatine a state presumption connected Feb. 13, 2025, successful Austin, Texas.  (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

10 steps you tin instrumentality to support yourself aft a breach similar this

If your accusation was exposed successful this breach oregon immoderate akin ransomware incident, determination are factual steps you tin instrumentality to trim the fallout.

1) Monitor your recognition and individuality closely

If the institution offers escaped recognition monitoring oregon individuality protection, enroll successful it. These services tin alert you aboriginal if idiosyncratic tries to unfastened accounts oregon misuse your identity. If thing is offered, see signing up for a reputable individuality theft extortion work connected your own.

Identity Theft companies tin show idiosyncratic accusation similar your Social Security Number (SSN), telephone number, and email code and alert you if it is being sold connected the acheronian web oregon being utilized to unfastened an account. They tin besides assistance you successful freezing your slope and recognition paper accounts to forestall further unauthorized usage by criminals.

See my tips and champion picks connected however to support yourself from individuality theft astatine Cyberguy.com.

2) Consider a idiosyncratic information removal service

The little of your accusation that's floating astir information broker sites, the harder it is for criminals to people you. Data removal services tin assistance trim your integer footprint implicit time.

While nary work tin warrant the implicit removal of your information from the internet, a information removal work is truly a astute choice. They aren't cheap, and neither is your privacy. These services bash each the enactment for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your idiosyncratic accusation from hundreds of websites. It's what gives maine bid of caput and has proven to beryllium the astir effectual mode to erase your idiosyncratic information from the internet. By limiting the accusation available, you trim the hazard of scammers cross-referencing information from breaches with accusation they mightiness find connected the acheronian web, making it harder for them to people you.

Even erstwhile nary ransomware radical claims responsibility, stolen information tin inactive substance individuality theft, fraud, and relationship takeovers agelong aft a breach occurs. (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)

Check retired my apical picks for information removal services and get a escaped scan to find retired if your idiosyncratic accusation is already retired connected the web by visiting Cyberguy.com.

Get a escaped scan to find retired if your idiosyncratic accusation is already retired connected the web: Cyberguy.com.

3) Use a password manager

A password manager helps you make and store unsocial passwords for each account. If attackers effort to reuse stolen information to interruption into your online accounts, strong, unsocial passwords tin halt that effort cold.

Next, spot if your email has been exposed successful past breaches. Our No. 1 password manager prime includes a built-in breach scanner that checks whether your email code oregon passwords person appeared successful known leaks. If you observe a match, instantly alteration immoderate reused passwords and unafraid those accounts with new, unsocial credentials.

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Check retired the champion expert-reviewed password managers of 2026 astatine Cyberguy.com.

4) Turn connected two-factor authentication (2FA) everyplace possible

2FA adds an other barrier, adjacent if idiosyncratic has your idiosyncratic details. Prioritize email, banking, unreality storage, and buying accounts, since those are often targeted first.

5) Install and support a beardown antivirus bundle running

Strong antivirus bundle tin assistance observe phishing attempts, malicious downloads, and suspicious enactment earlier it turns into a afloat compromise. Keep real-time extortion enabled and don't disregard warnings.

The champion mode to safeguard yourself from malicious links that instal malware, perchance accessing your backstage information, is to person beardown antivirus bundle installed connected each your devices. This extortion tin besides alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your idiosyncratic accusation and integer assets safe.

Get my picks for the champion 2026 antivirus extortion winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices astatine Cyberguy.com.

6) Watch for phishing and follow-up scams

After breaches similar this, scammers often nonstop fake emails oregon texts pretending to beryllium the affected institution oregon a recognition monitoring service. Slow down, verify messages independently, and ne'er click links you weren't expecting.

7) Review your recognition reports regularly

Check your reports from each large recognition bureaus for unfamiliar accounts oregon inquiries. You're entitled to escaped reports, and catching issues aboriginal makes them overmuch easier to fix.

8) Freeze your recognition to halt caller accounts from being opened

If criminals exposure your Social Security number, spot a recognition frost arsenic soon arsenic possible. A recognition frost blocks lenders from opening caller accounts successful your name, adjacent erstwhile thieves person your idiosyncratic details. The recognition bureaus connection freezes for free, and you tin temporarily assistance 1 erstwhile you use for recognition yourself. This measurement stops individuality theft earlier it starts, alternatively of alerting you aft the harm is done. If you similar not to frost your credit, spot a fraud alert instead. A fraud alert tells lenders to verify your individuality earlier approving credit, which adds different furniture of protection.

To larn much astir however to bash this, spell to Cyberguy.com and hunt "How to frost your credit." 

In the Gulshan attack, hackers spent days wrong interior systems, stealing idiosyncratic information earlier deploying ransomware that locked down files. (Silas Stein/picture confederation via Getty Images)

9) Protect yourself from taxation refund fraud with an IRS Identity Protection PIN

When Social Security numbers are stolen, taxation fraud often follows. Criminals tin record fake taxation returns successful your sanction to bargain refunds earlier you ever taxable your paperwork. An IRS Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) helps forestall this by ensuring lone you tin record a taxation instrumentality utilizing your SSN. It's a elemental but almighty safeguard that tin artifact a communal signifier of individuality theft tied to information breaches.

10) Lock down existing slope and fiscal accounts

Don't conscionable ticker for caller fraud, proactively unafraid the accounts you already have. Enable alerts connected slope and recognition paper accounts for ample transactions, caller payees, oregon changes to interaction information. If your SSN oregon driver's licence fig was exposed, see calling your slope to inquire astir further protections oregon relationship notes. Acting aboriginal tin forestall tiny issues from becoming large fiscal problems.

Kurt's cardinal takeaway

Your idiosyncratic information doesn't conscionable unrecorded with banks and hospitals. Retailers, state stations, and convenience store operators besides clasp accusation that tin origin existent harm if it falls into the incorrect hands. When attackers get successful done thing arsenic elemental arsenic a phishing email and enactment undetected for days, the harm tin dispersed fast. You can't forestall these breaches yourself, but you tin bounds however overmuch powerfulness stolen information gives criminals by locking down your accounts and staying alert.

Do you deliberation mundane businesses similar state stations instrumentality cybersecurity earnestly enough? Let america cognize by penning to america astatine Cyberguy.com.

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