More than 800,000 Texans possibly affected by Carnival cruise data breach

Carnival Inc. disclosed a data breach on May 27, revealing that an unauthorized user gained access to an employee account on April 14 and illegally copied personal information. The breach potentially exposed data belonging to up to 800,060 Texans, according to the Texas Attorney General’s Office. Affected individuals’ information may include names, addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth, and government-issued identification numbers like driver’s license or passport numbers. The breach was discovered when Carnival’s IT systems detected unauthorized access. The company stated it acted quickly to block the compromised account and has since implemented enhanced security measures. Carnival will notify affected customers via email and provide two years of free credit monitoring through TransUnion. In its breach notice, Carnival advised customers to remain vigilant against identity theft or fraud, recommending they contact local police if suspicious activity occurs. The company also noted that affected individuals can request a credit freeze with Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax or a fraud alert to protect their credit. Carnival emphasized that choosing between these options is an individual decision. The cruise line, which operates seven ships using Galveston harbor, has notified authorities about the breach and continues to review impacted data to determine its full scope. Customers with concerns about identity theft are encouraged to monitor their accounts closely and take proactive steps to safeguard their personal information.