Important Information on the RIBridges Cyber Attack

Rhode Island’s state government announced that RIBridges, Rhode Island’s system for administering social programs and benefits, was hit by a cyberattack. The State has reported that there is a high probability that a cybercriminal has obtained files with personally identifiable information of Rhode Islanders who have used the system. Current customers will not be able to log into their account through the portal or mobile app while the system is offline. Those seeking to apply for benefits can still submit a paper application

Details about the Data Breach 

Any individual who has received or applied for state health coverage, health, and human services programs or benefits could be impacted by this data breach. This includes past individuals who have utilized RIBrdiges over the past several years.

While the analysis of this breach is still underway, it has been indicated that the information involved may include names, addresses, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers, as well as certain banking information.

The programs and benefits managed through the RIBridges system include but are not limited to:

• Medicaid
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
• Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)
• Health coverage purchased through HealthSource RI
• Rhode Island Works (RIW)
• Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS)
• General Public Assistance (GPA) Program
• At HOME Cost Share

How Do I Get Help? 

Rhode Islanders can visit cyberalert.ri.gov or call 833-918-6603 for information on the data breach and how to best protect their personal information. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Saturday through Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The reference number for the data breach is B137035.

Next Steps

Households that have had personal information compromised will receive a letter by mail from the State that explains how to access free credit monitoring.

• Freeze Your Credit
  • Reach out to the credit reporting agencies to freeze your credit. This is free to do and will guarantee that no one else can take out a loan or establish credit in your name during the freeze. You won’t lose access to your money or credit cards. You can lift the freeze at any time. More information on how to place or lift a freeze on your credit report can be found here.
• Monitor Your Credit
  • Contact one of the three credit reporting agencies to order a free credit report. More information on how to receive a copy of your credit report can be found here.
• Request a Fraud Alert
  • Ask one of the credit reporting agencies to place a fraud alert on your files. This is free and lets creditors know to contact you before any new accounts can be opened in your name. Asking one agency to do this will cover this step for all three agencies.
• Use Multifactor Authentication
  • Instead of having just one password to access your information, have a safety backup to help prove that it’s really you before you can log into your account.