NFL Super Bowl entertainment partner victim of cyberattack
The New York-based advertising and broadcast agency Van Wagner has suffered what it calls a “malware attack” that leaked the personal information of over 5000 people.
Image by Getty/DeFodi Images
The New York-based advertising and broadcast agency Van Wagner has suffered what it calls a “malware attack” that leaked the personal information of over 5000 people.
The company said that on August 27th, 2024, it discovered a “data incident” resulting from a “malware attack” on August 3rd, 2024.
The data involved includes:
- Names
- Addresses
- Dates of birth
- Email addresses
- Social Security numbers
It may be that someone inside the company clicked a suspicious link that prompted the malware to be downloaded or that the threat actor leveraged a vulnerability in the victim’s systems to spread the malware.
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Either way, this hasn’t been confirmed, but Cybernews has reached out to Van Wagner for comment.
The advertising and entertainment agency said it has commenced an investigation and has attempted to strengthen various components of its IT infrastructure to prevent a similar incident from happening again.
Van Wagner is offering the over 5000 affected individuals access to a free 12 months of theft protection services through Equifax Credit Watch.
Van Wagner is an advertising and entertainment agency that has broadcasted major events like the 2016 Rio Olympics and the Super Bowl, as well as the NFL draft, which had 55 million views worldwide.
What’s a malware attack?
Malware is an umbrella term for many malicious programs designed to damage a server or network. It can take various forms, from viruses to trojans, and is often used to steal valuable information for financial gain.
Attackers use malware when they want to modify their target’s systems. Depending on the malware, the malicious software can steal data, encrypt files, break integral parts of the system, and more.
While bad actors deploy malware for financial gain or to steal valuable information, some do it to disrupt big companies and sabotage their systems.