Notice of Cyber Incident

NOTICE OF CYBER INCIDENT

January 7, 2025

Port Authority of Allegheny County d/b/a Pittsburgh Regional Transit (“PRT”) is notifying individuals about a recent cyber incident involving personal information. Although our investigation is still ongoing, the affected data at this time relates to some current or former PRT employees and job applicants. We are taking this matter very seriously and are committed to the privacy and security of all information in our possession. Therefore, we are providing this notice to inform potentially impacted individuals and to suggest ways to protect personal information.

What Happened

On December 19, 2024, PRT detected ransomware on our computer network. As soon as we learned this, we immediately mobilized PRT’s Cyber Incident Response Team, launched an investigation with assistance from nationally recognized third-party cybersecurity and data forensics consultants, and notified law enforcement. Through our investigation, we determined that the cyber criminals took certain data from our network. We first determined that personal information was affected by this incident on December 27, 2024. We then began conducting a thorough review of the identified data to determine what information was involved and who it impacted. Although the review is ongoing, we are providing this notification while we continue to analyze the data. Upon completing our review, we will provide the required written notice to any additional affected individuals and will offer complimentary credit monitoring services where appropriate.

What Information Was Involved

Although the investigation is still ongoing, at this time we have determined that the data contains Social Security numbers and driver’s license numbers related to some current or former PRT employees and PRT job applicants.

What We Are Doing About It

As soon as we learned about this incident, we immediately worked with our team to secure our network and begin an investigation. We are also cooperating with federal law enforcement’s investigation into this incident. To further enhance our security and to help prevent similar occurrences in the future, we have taken or will be taking the following steps:

1. Implemented enterprise-wide password reset;

2. Strengthened restrictions for external network access; and

3. Enhanced network monitoring.

Additionally, PRT will be providing notice of this incident to the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office and all other appropriate regulators.

What You Can Do

We recommend that you take the following preventative measures to help detect and mitigate any misuse of your information:

1. Remain vigilant for incidents of fraud and identity theft by regularly reviewing your account statements and free credit reports for any unauthorized or suspicious activity. Information on additional ways to protect your information, including how to obtain a free credit report and free security freeze, can be found at the end of this notice.

2. Report any incidents of suspected identity theft to your local law enforcement, state Attorney General, and the major credit bureaus.

For More Information

The privacy and security of your information is very important to PRT, and we remain committed to protecting it. If you have any questions or concerns about this incident, you may call us at 412-566-5132 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, excluding major holidays. Please leave a voice message if prompted to do so.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT IDENTITY THEFT AND WAYS TO PROTECT YOURSELF

Visit https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/category/fraud-and-identity-theft/ for general information regarding identity protection. You can obtain additional information about fraud alerts, security freezes, and preventing identity theft from the consumer reporting agencies listed below and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) by calling its identity theft hotline: 877-438-4338; TTY: 1-866-653-4261. They also provide information online at https://consumer.ftc.gov/features/identity-theft. The FTC’s address is: Federal Trade Commission, Division of Privacy and Identity Protection, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580. You have the ability to place a security freeze on your credit reports by contacting the following agencies.

National Credit Reporting Agencies Contact Information

Obtain Your Credit Report

You should also monitor your credit reports. You may periodically obtain your credit reports from each of the national consumer reporting agencies. In addition, under federal law, you are entitled to one free copy of your credit report every 12 months from each of the three nationwide consumer reporting agencies listed above. You may obtain a free copy of your credit report by going to www.AnnualCreditReport.com or by calling (877) 322-8228. You also may complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form available from the FTC at https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/sites/www.consumer.ftc.gov/files/articles/pdf/pdf-0093-annual-report-request-form.pdf and mail it to Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281. You may also contact any of the three major consumer reporting agencies to request a copy of your credit report. You may be able to obtain one or more (depending on the state) additional copies of your credit report, free of charge. You must contact each of the credit reporting agencies directly.

If you discover inaccurate information or a fraudulent transaction on your credit report, you have the right to request that the consumer reporting agency delete that information from your credit report file.

Fraud Alerts

You may want to consider placing a fraud alert on your credit report. An initial fraud alert is free and will stay on your credit file for one year. The alert informs creditors of possible fraudulent activity within your report and requests that the creditor contact you prior to establishing any new accounts in your name. To place a fraud alert on your credit report, contact any of the three national credit reporting agencies using the contact information listed above. As soon as one credit bureau confirms the fraud alert, they will notify the others. Additional information is available at www.annualcreditreport.com.

Security Freeze

You have the ability to place a security freeze on your credit report at no cost to you. A security freeze is intended to prevent credit, loans and services from being approved in your name without your consent. To place a security freeze on your credit report, you may be able to use an online process, an automated telephone line, or a written request to all three of the credit reporting agencies listed above. The following information must be included when requesting a security freeze (note that if you are requesting a credit report for your spouse, this information must be provided for him/her as well): (1) full name, with middle initial and any suffixes; (2) Social Security number; (3) date of birth; (4) current address and any previous addresses for the past five years; (5) a legible copy of a government-issued identification card, (6) proof of current address, such as a legible copy of a recent utility bill or bank or insurance statement, (7) a legible copy of a recent W-2, pay stub, or Social Security card, and (8) if you are a victim of identity theft, a copy of either the police report, investigative report, or complaint to a law enforcement agency concerning identity theft. It is essential that each copy be legible, display your name and current mailing address, and the date of issue. Under federal law, you cannot be charged to place, lift, or remove a security freeze.

After receiving your freeze request, each credit reporting company will send you a confirmation letter containing a unique PIN (personal identification number) or password. Keep the PIN or password in a safe place, you will need it if you choose to lift the freeze.

Additional Helpful Information

Even if you do not find any suspicious activity on your initial credit reports, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recommends that you check your credit reports periodically. Checking your credit report periodically can help you spot problems and address them quickly.

If you find suspicious activity on your credit reports or have reason to believe your information is being misused, call your local law enforcement agency and file a police report. Be sure to obtain a copy of the police report, as many creditors will want the information it contains to absolve you of the fraudulent debts. You may also file a complaint with the FTC by contacting them at the information provided above. This notice was not delayed as a result of a law enforcement investigation.

If your personal information has been used to file a false tax return, to open an account or to attempt to open an account in your name, or to commit fraud or other crimes against you, you may file a police report in the city in which you currently reside.