40 states join Equifax probe

WASHINGTON, Sept 14, (Agencies): Nearly 40 states have joined a probe of Equifax’s handling of a massive data breach that exposed valuable information on up to 143 million Americans, according to the Illinois attorney general’s office, which is leading the probe.

Eileen Boyce, a spokeswoman for Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, declined to identify the other states.

Connecticut and Pennsylvania are part of the probe, the Connecticut state attorney general has said previously. Iowa is also part of the probe, according to state spokesman Geoff Greenwood.

Equifax’s shares have fallen more than 30 percent amid revelations of investigations into the data breach and the company’s decision to delay disclosing it.

A US consumer protection watchdog agency said Thursday it has begun an investigation into the massive data breach.

The Federal Trade Commission joins US congressional committees promising to probe the causes and implications of what could be the worst breach of personal information in the United States.

“The FTC typically does not comment on ongoing investigations,” said Peter Kaplan, the agency’s acting director of public affairs.

“However, in light of the intense public interest and the potential impact of this matter, I can confirm that FTC staff is investigating the Equifax data breach.”

The hack disclosed last week at Equifax, one of the three major credit bureaus that collect consumer financial data, potentially affects more than half the adult population.

While not the largest breach — Yahoo attacks leaked data on as many as one billion accounts — the Equifax incident could be the most damaging because of the nature of data collected: bank and social security numbers and personal information of value to hackers and others.

US lawmakers have expressed concern over the implications of the hack and have called for hearings.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee announced it would hold an Oct 3 hearing with Equifax chief executive Richard Smith.