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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →The Maine Attorney General recorded 296,851 people affected by the February 2023 DISH Network incident. The reported exposed information included names or other personal identifiers paired with a driver’s-license or non-driver identification-card number. DISH said its customer databases were not accessed.
What happened in the DISH incident?
DISH announced a network outage on February 23, 2023. The company later reported that the incident affected internal servers and IT telephony and that data had been extracted from its IT systems. DISH’s 2023 Form 10-K describes it as a cybersecurity incident; the available official information does not identify the criminal group.
DISH said it activated its incident-response and business-continuity plans, brought in cybersecurity experts and outside advisers, and notified law enforcement. Its filing says DISH TV, Sling TV, retail wireless, wireless networks and data networks remained operational during the incident.
How many people were affected, and what information was involved?
The Office of the Maine Attorney General’s 2023 breach record lists 296,851 people affected. It identifies the compromised data as a name or other personal identifier combined with a driver’s-license number or non-driver identification-card number.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsDISH said employee-related records and a limited number of other records containing personal information were among the extracted data. It also stated that customer databases were not accessed. That distinction means the incident involved personal information in DISH’s IT systems, but the company did not report access to its customer databases.
When did the incident and notifications occur?
The Maine record lists February 22–23, 2023 as the incident dates and May 8, 2023 as the discovery date. It records notification dates from May 15 to May 18, 2023. DISH’s public outage announcement came on February 23, and the company reported that significant systems had been restored by March 31, 2023.
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Was personal information misused, and what support did DISH offer?
DISH said it had no evidence that personal information was misused as a result of the incident. The company also said it received confirmation that the extracted data had been deleted. These are statements about what DISH reported; they do not establish that misuse was impossible.
DISH offered affected people two years of identity monitoring through TransUnion, including credit monitoring, credit reporting and credit services. Anyone who received a notice should use the instructions and eligibility details in that notice, since they govern access to the offer.
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Did DISH pay a ransom?
The available authoritative records do not establish whether DISH received a ransom demand or paid one. The incident is often described as ransomware-related, but that label alone does not confirm a payment. DISH’s SEC filing uses the broader term “cybersecurity incident.”
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What did the incident cost DISH?
DISH reported approximately $30 million in cybersecurity-related expenses for 2023 in its 2024 filing covering that year. Substantially all of those expenses were incurred in the first quarter and related to remediation and customer support. This is the company’s disclosed cybersecurity-related expense figure, not a stated ransom payment.
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