The Vermont Office of the Attorney General reported a data breach involving the Chester County DUI Program on January 16, 2025. The breach began on January 7, 2025, when personal information, including names and Social Security numbers, was inadvertently emailed externally, affecting an unknown number of individuals.

On January 16, 2025, Chester County Probation/Parole and Pretrial Services disclosed a data breach stemming from an inadvertent exposure of sensitive personal information. The incident, identified on January 7, 2025, was caused by employees externally emailing data without proper safeguards. The breach compromised the records of 8,281 individuals, including highly sensitive details such as names and Social Security numbers (SSNs). The exposed data poses significant risks, including identity theft, financial fraud, and long-term reputational harm to affected individuals. Given the nature of the compromised information—government-issued identifiers tied to legal and probationary services—the breach also raises concerns about potential misuse for targeted scams or exploitation of vulnerable populations. The organization has not yet confirmed whether the exposed data was accessed by unauthorized third parties, but the sheer volume and sensitivity of the leaked records amplify the severity of the incident. Mitigation efforts, including notifications to affected parties and regulatory bodies, are likely underway, though the long-term consequences for trust in the agency’s data-handling practices remain uncertain.

Chester County government’s computer system were targeted in a ransomware attack after an internet bug led to it. Chester County’s Department of Computing and Information Services (DCIS) detected and immediately responded to potential malware activity on its computer network, after getting assistance from third-party cybersecurity consultants.