Mass Mutual database accessed without authorization

The personal information about employees of Springfield, Massachusetts-based insurance provider, Mass Mutual might be at risk after a company database was accessed by an individual without authorization.

How many victims? Unknown.

What type of personal information? Unspecified benefits information.

What happened? A database that was maintained by an outside vendor and contained a limited amount of personal employee information, may have been subject to unauthorized access, Mass Mutual spokesman Jim Lacey said in a statement.

Details: The database did not include Social Security numbers, bank account information, or any client or field representative information.

What was the response? The vendor hired a forensics team to investigate the breach and it was determined that no misuse of the information or fraudulent activity involving the data occurred. Mass Mutual is working with its vendor to ensure a similar incident does not happen again. In addition, affected individuals have been offered a free subscription for credit monitoring services.