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Byte Federal said a 2024 intrusion compromised personal information belonging to about 58,000 customers, including Social Security and government ID numbers. The company said the data was encrypted but that the attacker also obtained the encryption key; it could not confirm whether the information was sold or shared. Byte Federal reported separate cryptocurrency thefts from company systems, while stating that no customer funds or assets were lost.
When did the Byte Federal incident happen?
Byte Federal’s December 11, 2024 filing with the Maryland Attorney General says the company first became aware of unauthorized activity on September 30, 2024. The filing describes a web-server misconfiguration that exposed a personal access token in a staging-site Git configuration file. The attacker used the token to access a GitLab code repository, followed by later unauthorized activity involving a Lightning server and an Australian database. Maryland filing
Byte Federal says it learned customer data had been compromised on November 18, after identifying a phishing campaign using lookalike domains and 573 text messages sent through its Twilio account. The company’s consumer notice also identifies November 18 as the date it became aware of a security breach involving customer data. That is the discovery date for the customer-data compromise, not the beginning of the unauthorized activity. Maryland filing Byte Federal consumer notice
How many customers were affected, and what information was involved?
Byte Federal estimated that approximately 58,000 customers nationwide were affected. Its Maryland filing lists 481 affected Maryland residents, and Maine’s Attorney General breach listing records 111 affected Maine residents. These are reported notice counts, not findings that every person’s data was used or misused. Maryland filing Maine Attorney General listing
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The Maryland filing and Byte Federal’s consumer notice identify these categories as compromised:
- Names and dates of birth
- Social Security numbers and government ID numbers
- Addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses
The consumer notice separately says transaction activity and user photographs were subject to attempted unauthorized access, but Byte Federal said it had no evidence at that time that those categories had actually been compromised or misused. “Attempted access” should not be treated as confirmed theft of those records. Byte Federal consumer notice
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Was the data sold or published?
That has not been established. Byte Federal said the personal data was encrypted, but the attacker also acquired the encryption key. General Counsel Anessa Allen Santos signed the company’s Maryland filing, which states: “The data was encrypted, but the attacker also acquired the encryption key.” The company said it could not confirm whether the information was sold on the dark web or otherwise shared. The available notices do not establish that the data was published, sold, or used for identity theft. Maryland filing Byte Federal consumer notice
Was Bitcoin stolen from Byte Federal customers?
Byte Federal said no customer funds or assets were lost or compromised. Its Maryland filing separately describes cryptocurrency taken from company systems: $55,000 worth of altcoins on September 30 and $6,000 in Lightning satoshis on October 2. Those figures concern the company-system incidents described in the filing, not customer losses from the personal-data breach. Maryland filing Byte Federal consumer notice
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What did Byte Federal do after discovering the intrusion?
Byte Federal said it shut down its platform, isolated the attacker, reset customer accounts, changed internal passwords and network tokens and keys, restricted IP access, strengthened firewall rules, and added security monitoring. The company also said it reported the crime to the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, retained an outside cybersecurity firm to investigate and audit its network practices, and was cooperating with law enforcement. Its notices said the investigation was ongoing; they do not provide final forensic findings or independently verify the effectiveness of the changes. Maryland filing Byte Federal consumer notice
What should affected Byte Federal customers do?
Byte Federal advised customers to reset login credentials, review account statements and credit reports, and consider a fraud alert or security freeze. Which step to prioritize depends on the risk:
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- Protect account access: Reset your Byte Federal login credentials. If you reused that password elsewhere, change it on those services too.
- Look for existing misuse: Review Byte Federal account activity, financial statements, and credit reports for transactions or accounts you do not recognize.
- Reduce new-account fraud risk: Consider placing a fraud alert or security freeze with the major credit bureaus. A freeze restricts access to your credit report for many new-credit applications; a fraud alert asks creditors to take additional steps to verify your identity.
- Respond to suspected identity theft: Report suspicious activity to the relevant financial institution and follow current government identity-theft guidance. Use contact details from current official sources; notice contact information and support hours may have changed.
Byte Federal said it retained TransUnion to help deliver breach notices. That does not establish that every affected person received ongoing credit monitoring. Maryland filing Byte Federal consumer notice
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is known about lawsuits over the breach?
Bloomberg Law reported on December 31, 2024, that two proposed class actions had been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. The complaints alleged that Byte Federal failed to follow cybersecurity standards and sought to represent U.S. residents whose personal information was exposed. Those are allegations, not court findings. The report does not establish the cases’ current status. Bloomberg Law report
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