Lee Enterprises Data Breach: 40,000 Affected

Lee Enterprises Data Breach: Employee Information Compromised

Lee Enterprises, a major newspaper publisher, recently disclosed that a ransomware incident experienced in February led to the unauthorized access of employee personal data.

The cyberattack caused significant disruptions to numerous U.S. media organizations. Now, it's been confirmed that sensitive information was also stolen.

Details of the Data Theft

A notification letter submitted to Maine’s attorney general reveals that the personal data of 39,779 individuals was compromised during the attack. This included Social Security numbers.

The affected individuals are primarily current and former Lee Enterprises employees.

Impact of the Ransomware Attack

Lee Enterprises is a leading newspaper publisher in the United States. They also supply publishing technologies and online services to over 70 different publications.

The ransomware attack severely hampered newspaper production. Operations at various media outlets nationwide were disrupted for several weeks, and financial transactions for freelancers and contractors were also impacted.

Attribution of the Cyberattack

The Qilin ransomware group, recognized for carrying out damaging cyberattacks, has claimed responsibility for the breach.

Despite attempts to obtain a statement, a representative from Lee Enterprises did not provide a response before this report was published.

This incident underscores the growing threat of ransomware attacks targeting media organizations and the importance of robust cybersecurity measures.