November 6, 2026: The Sussex County Prosecutor's Office in New Jersey said an unauthorized party accessed its network in July. Files holding names, Social Security numbers and driver's license or state ID numbers may have been taken. The office has not said how many people are affected. See the Sussex County Prosecutor breach record for details.
The office received alerts about a disruption to its computer network on or about August 10, 2026. An investigation with outside specialists found that someone had accessed the network between July 15 and July 22. Some files containing personal information were accessed during that week.
The office reported the incident to state and federal law enforcement, the New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell (NJCCIC) and the New Jersey Attorney General. Its notice went out through PR Newswire, and DataBreaches.net published the text.
What happened in the Sussex County data breach?
An outside party had access to the prosecutor's office network for about a week in July. The office has not said how the intruder got in. The notice does not mention ransomware or name any group.
Nearly four months passed between the intrusion and the public notice. Delays like this are common while an investigation works out which files were involved. A delay does not mean the files went unused, and Social Security numbers stay valuable to criminals for years.
What data was exposed?
The notice lists three types of information:
- Names: first and last names.
- Social Security numbers.
- ID numbers: driver's license or state-issued ID numbers.
The office says these files "may have been taken." It does not say the data was posted online. The notice does not list card numbers, dates of birth or medical information. It also does not say whether case files or other records were in the affected files.
A Social Security number paired with a name and a driver's license number is enough to open credit in someone's name. That makes this a serious identity theft risk, even without a published count.
Who is affected?
People whose details were in the affected prosecutor's office files may be affected. A prosecutor's office can hold records about staff, crime victims, witnesses and defendants. Living in Sussex County does not by itself mean your data was involved. More about the office is on the Sussex County Prosecutor's Office page.
The office set up a call center at (888) 269-1448, open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern. You can call to ask whether your information was involved.
What should affected people do?
- If you have had dealings with the Sussex County Prosecutor's Office, call (888) 269-1448. Do not use a number sent to you by text.
- Place a free credit freeze with Equifax, Experian and TransUnion if you think your Social Security number was in the files.
- Request an IRS Identity Protection PIN to block fraudulent tax returns filed in your name.
- Ignore messages about unpaid tickets or "restitution" payments that point to unfamiliar websites.
- If you spot fraud, report it at IdentityTheft.gov and keep a copy of the November 6 notice.
What other public agencies were hit this month?
Public bodies reported several incidents in early November. Queens Public Library confirmed a ransomware attack that took down its online services. In Canada, York University disclosed stolen form data going back to 2007.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the Sussex County breach?
The Sussex County Prosecutor's Office has not published a number. Its notice refers to certain files containing personal information and sets up a call center for questions. Anyone who thinks their details may be in the office's files can call (888) 269-1448 on weekdays.
When did the Sussex County breach happen?
Someone accessed the office's network between July 15 and July 22, 2026. The office received alerts about a network disruption on or about August 10, 2026. It published its public notice on November 6, 2026, after an investigation with outside specialists.
Was the Sussex County breach a ransomware attack?
The notice does not mention ransomware or name any group. It describes unauthorized access to the network and says some files may have been taken. The office found the problem after receiving alerts about a disruption to its computer network in August 2026.
Who do I call about the Sussex County data breach?
Call (888) 269-1448, Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern time. This number was published in the office's November 6, 2026 notice. Be cautious of anyone who contacts you first by text or email and asks for your Social Security number.