Texas Hearing Institute Hit by Ransomware Attack, Exposing Sensitive Data The Texas Hearing Institute, a Houston-based nonprofit serving children with hearing loss and their families, suffered a significant data breach in early 2026. On March 20, 2026, the organization detected unauthorized access to its systems and engaged a third-party cybersecurity firm to investigate. The probe concluded on April 22, 2026, confirming that sensitive personal information had been compromised. The INTERLOCK ransomware group claimed responsibility for the attack on April 2, 2026, via a dark web posting, asserting they had exfiltrated 540 GB of internal data. After a review, Texas Hearing Institute finalized the scope of the breach on June 19, 2026, identifying exposed data including names, Social Security numbers, and medical records. The nonprofit, which has provided audiology, speech therapy, and educational services since 1947, serves children across Texas and parts of Louisiana. Legal firm Shamis & Gentile P.A. is now investigating potential compensation for affected individuals.