Cierant Data Breach: Protect Your Personal & Health Information Now
Cierant Corporation recently confirmed a data breach involving sensitive personal and health information. On December 10, 2024, Cierant discovered that a third-party file transfer tool, VLTrader, exposed vulnerabilities that hackers exploited. As soon as the breach was identified, Cierant launched an urgent investigation with top-tier cybersecurity experts to assess the damage and secure its systems.
What Happened in Cierant Data Breach?
Cybercriminals accessed Cierant’s systems by targeting a known flaw in VLTrader, a tool used to transfer sensitive data. This allowed unauthorized access to personal data that Cierant processes on behalf of healthcare plan providers. In response, Cierant immediately alerted its healthcare partners and began working closely with them to identify individuals potentially affected by this security incident.
Who was affected?
The individuals affected by this incident are those whose personal and health-related information was processed by Cierant on behalf of third-party health plans. Specifically, this includes individuals enrolled in healthcare plans that use Cierant’s systems to manage data transfers through VLTrader.
Cierant has already mailed notification letters to individuals whose information was likely exposed. If you are a member of a health plan that contracts with Cierant and have received a letter, you’re among those affected.
What Information was taken?
The exposed information varies by individual and may include:
Full name and address
Date of birth
Health plan member ID or beneficiary number
Medical record number
Premium payment details
Claims number
Treatment dates and descriptions of medical services
Provider names
While there is no evidence of misuse or identity theft, Cierant is taking the matter seriously and has notified affected individuals via mailed letters.
How Cierant Is Responding
Cierant has mailed notification letters to potentially impacted individuals. These letters include:
A detailed explanation of the data breach
The specific personal information involved
Steps individuals can take to protect themselves
Access to free identity theft protection services
A dedicated toll-free hotline for questions: 877-841-3066 (Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–9:00 PM EST)
What steps you can take to proctect yourself
If your information may have been compromised, you can take the following actions to protect your personal data and credit:
1. Monitor Your Credit and Bank Accounts
Regularly review your credit reports and account statements. Report suspicious activity immediately to your bank, credit card issuer, or law enforcement.
2. Place a Fraud Alert
You can contact any of the three major credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your credit file. This alert warns creditors to verify your identity before approving new credit:
Experian: 1-888-397-3742 | experian.com/help
Equifax: 1-800-349-9960 | equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services
TransUnion: 1-888-909-8872 | transunion.com/credit-help
Fraud alerts remain active for one year. Identity theft victims can extend them for seven years.
3. Check Your Free Credit Reports
You’re entitled to one free credit report per year from each bureau. Get yours at annualcreditreport.com, call 1-877-322-8228, or mail a request to:
Annual Credit Report Request Service
P.O. Box 105281
Atlanta, GA 30348-5281
4. Place a Security Freeze
A security freeze prevents anyone from opening credit accounts in your name without your permission. It’s free to set up, lift, or remove. You must request it from each credit bureau directly and provide:
Full legal name (including suffixes)
Social Security number
Date of birth
Current and past addresses (last five years)
Proof of identity and address (e.g., government-issued ID, utility bill, or W2)
Credit Freeze Mailing Addresses:
Experian: P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013
Equifax: P.O. Box 105788, Atlanta, GA 30348-5788
TransUnion: P.O. Box 160, Woodlyn, PA 19094
5. Learn More from the FTC
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) provides additional guidance on protecting your identity and reporting fraud. Contact them at:
Website: www.ftc.gov/idtheft
Phone: 1-877-IDTHEFT (438-4338)
Address: FTC Consumer Response Center, 600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20580
Legal Help?
Have you recieved the data breach letter from Cierant Corporation?
We want to help you understand your options. Fill out the online form