Data breach at newspaper giant Lee Enterprises affects 40,000 people

Lee Enterprises, a prominent player in the newspaper industry, has revealed that a recent ransomware attack led to a significant data breach affecting nearly 40,000 individuals. The cyber incident, which occurred in February, caused major disruptions across numerous U.S. media outlets. According to a letter submitted to the Maine attorney general, the personal data of 39,779 people was compromised, including sensitive information such as Social Security numbers. This breach primarily impacts both current and former employees of the company. As one of the largest newspaper publishers in the United States, Lee Enterprises also offers publishing technology and digital services to over 70 publications. The ransomware attack severely disrupted newspaper printing and operations nationwide for several weeks, impacting payments to freelancers and contractors. The notorious ransomware group Qilin has claimed responsibility for this breach. A request for comment from a Lee spokesperson went unanswered before publication.