Park’N Fly Data Breach Affects a Million Customers

  • By Farrukh Mushtaq

    Farrukh Mushtaq

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    Farrukh Mushtaq, a digital marketer at PureSquare, possesses a keen interest in cybersecurity and enjoys writing about it. With several years of experience in the digital marketing industry, he brings expertise and passion to his work.

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  • 2 September 2024
  • 12 mins read

According to Cyber Express, a recent data breach in Canada affected the private data of 1 million Park’N Fly customers. 

This massive breach has shattered customers’ trust in Park'N Fly because cybercriminals with VPN access penetrated the network and stole personal information including names, email address, and CAA and Aeroplan numbers! 

This blog highlights the details of this shocking breach, the impact on consumers, and the steps you can take in case of a data breach.

What Happened in the Park'N Fly Data Breach?

Parking company Park'N Fly revealed that an unapproved third party compromised one million client files last month through an online hack.

The company released a statement stating that an investigation has shown that "no payment information was compromised." The attack happened between July 11 and July 13.

When "a third party accessed the Park'N Fly network through unauthorized remote VPN access," the company stated, "approximately 1 million customer files were accessed."

The corporation emailed customers on Monday to notify them of the breach, more than three weeks before its discovery.

The email says, 

"We determined on August 1, 2024, that some of your personal information was likely affected by the incident."

"We have been diligently investigating this incident with the assistance of outside experts."

The organization said that once its platforms were "fully restored within five days," it had strengthened its cyber security measures.

What Was the Impact on Park'N Fly Customers?

A million or more Canadian consumers' names, email addresses, Aeroplan and CAA numbers, and other personal information were compromised. 

Even though no financial information was accessed, the hack greatly worried and inconvenienced those impacted. Consumers risk falling victim to fraud schemes such as phishing and identity theft. The event also harmed Park N Fly's customer trust and reputation.

What Was the Reaction of Park'N Fly After this Breach?

CEO Carlo Marrello declared on Monday that the business is "committed to transparency" and that system integrity will be given top priority.

"At Park’N Fly, the trust and security of our customers are paramount,

Marrello stated in the release. 

"While we deeply regret any concern this incident may have caused, we want to reassure our valued customers and partners that we are taking all necessary steps to safeguard their information.”

After discovering the hack, Park'N Fly claims to have stepped up security monitoring and updated the network's antivirus program.

What are the Potential Privacy Risks from Exposed Data?

There could be many privacy hazards due to the Park'N Fly data breach, which revealed the personal information of about one million consumers. Following are a few possible outcomes as a result of a data breach:

Compromising Personal Information

Names, addresses, and contact details, among other exposed data, can be exploited to impersonate somebody.

Causing Financial Loss

Using stolen information, identity thieves may try to open new accounts, obtain loans, or make unlawful transactions.

Phishing Attacks

Hackers can send highly tailored phishing emails with the stolen data, increasing the likelihood that victims will believe them.

Doxxing

When personally identifiable information is made available online, it can result in doxxing, which is the public disclosure of private information. 

Harassing and Threats

Doxxing can also put a person at risk for physical threats, stalking, or other forms of harassment.

Selling Data on the Dark Web

Data that has been stolen can be purchased on the dark web and utilized for a variety of nefarious activities.

How to Take Immediate Action in Case of a Data Breach

Here are some quick actions you should take if you've been informed that the Park'N Fly 2024 data breach compromised your personal information:

StepsAction
1. Examine Your AccountsCheck credit card and bank statements for fraudulent activity. Report suspicious transactions.
2. Verify PasswordsChange passwords for accounts used to access Park'N Fly.
3. Put Your Credit on FreezeContact a credit bureau to freeze your credit report.
4. Watch Out for Phishing AttemptsBe wary of suspicious calls, texts, or emails. Never open attachments or click links from unknown sources.
5. Report the BreachFile a complaint with the FTC or your state attorney general's office.
6. Register for Credit MonitoringConsider signing up for a credit monitoring service.
7. Check Park'N Fly's WebsiteVisit the Park'N Fly website for updates on the data breach.

Even though you follow all the security and privacy measures, it is still hard for you to defend private data from smart and cunning hackers. 

They will try every trick up their sleeves to collect and steal your personal information to sell it to the highest bidders. Or worse, ask for a hefty ransom in return. 

During such breaches, it is important to rely on rock-solid privacy apps like PurePrivacy that can help you protect personal information and even alert you about such breaches beforehand. 

Use Dark Web Monitoring to Get Alerts About Information Leaks

Your personal information is a target for hackers and scammers, that will ruin your online identity and finances.

Imagine losing your hard-earned money, your reputation, and your peace of mind to a cybercriminal.

With PurePrivacy, you can scan the Dark Web 24/7 and receive alert notifications whenever someone posts your private information (name, address, credit card details, credentials, SSN). At only $5.83/month, you'll get instant dark web alerts and the power to stop data breaches dead in their tracks.

Get Pureprivacy Now Read more about Pureprivacy Dark Web Monitoring alert

  • Use Dark Web Monitoring to identify your compromised data on the dark web.
  • Get Tracker Blocker to shield your online activities from prying eyes and maintain your privacy.
  • Use Remove My Data to protect your data from identity theft by preventing data brokers from accessing and misusing your personal information.
  • Use Social Privacy Manager to ensure your online activities remain private and prevent unauthorized tracking.

Scan the Dark Web for Your Data

PurePrivacy monitors the dark web closely to identify any compromised or released personal information that may be related to you. 

Get Anonymous Web Surfing by Disabling Trackers

By disabling third-party cookies, trackers, you can protect your online activities from being monitored and maintain your anonymity while browsing.

Protect Your Data from Identity Theft

You can use PurePrivacy to identify data brokers, assess privacy risk, and remove your information from their databases with automated opt-out requests.

Auto-Delete Search History

To avoid unauthorized tracking and guarantee the privacy of your online activity, automatically delete your browsing history, cookies, and cache.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  • What type of data was exposed in the hack?

    Plus

    Park'N Fly confirmed that personal data, including names, email addresses, physical addresses, Aeroplan numbers, and CAA numbers, was accessed, even though it has not revealed all the specifics. They have clarified, meanwhile, that no credit card or bank information was stolen.

  • In what ways is Park'N Fly addressing the security breach?

    Plus

    Park'N Fly will implement more security measures to protect user information in the future. They are also investigating the situation with the assistance of outside experts.

  • After the breach, should I update my passwords?

    Plus

    It is generally a good idea to update your passwords regularly, especially if you use the same password for many accounts, even if Park'N Fly has maintained that account passwords were not hacked.

  • How can I protect myself against possible identity theft?

    Plus

    Keep a watchful eye on your accounts to spot any strange activity.
    Phishing efforts should be avoided as they could try to fool you into giving personal information.
    Put a fraud notice on your credit record, if possible.

  • Simplify your online presence today

    With PurePrivacy, make sure all your personal data remains safe without a hassle!

In Summary!

The Park'N Fly data breach reminds us how easily personal information may be compromised, even in seemingly safe situations. 

Prioritizing data protection methods is essential knowing hackers and scammers will target publicly available platforms. 
You can also use PurePrivacy with a VPN to protect your private data from malicious actors.