Cybersecurity
Equifax Falls After Signs It Was Slow to Fix Flaw Hackers Used
- Software fix was available in March, 2 months before intrusion
- Disclosure likely to add to calls for tighter regulation
Equifax May Have Been Slow to Fix Security Flaw
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Equifax Inc. tumbled in New York trading after saying the hackers that stole data on 143 million U.S. consumers exploited a vulnerability that the company could have fixed two months before it was breached.
The disclosure suggests that Equifax may have been slow to take basic steps to secure its most sensitive data, and will likely add to calls for stronger oversight of an industry whose information in the hands of criminals can enable the worst kinds of identity theft and fraud. The company faces a Federal Trade Commission investigation and calls to testify before Congress.