Cotton Incorporated data breach: what was exposed and what to do

What information was involved

According to the sample notice letter Cotton Incorporated filed with the California AG (read the letter), the information involved may include:

NameUsername / passwordEmail addressHome address

“The database export contained the information that you used to register with CottonWorks.com. This information may include your name and email address, the name of your employer, college or university, your physical address, biographical information you entered and the plaintext password you use at CottonWorks.com.”

Extracted automatically from the letter’s “What information was involved” section. Not every item applies to every person; your own letter says what applied to you.

Steps for the information in this notice

Matched to the information types listed above. All free.

1. Change the password for that account and anywhere you reused it, and turn on two-step verification. Expect phishing emails that mention this breach.
2. Be wary of calls, texts and emails that mention this breach. Don’t give out information; contact the organization using the details in the official letter.

If the letter offers free credit monitoring, enroll using the code in the letter, not a link from an unexpected email or text.

What to do now

This is general guidance for anyone who receives a data breach notice. Read the official notice for details about your situation.

1. Read the official notice. It should say what happened, what kinds of information were involved, and whether free credit monitoring is offered (and the enrollment deadline).
2. Freeze your credit — it's free. A freeze stops new credit from being opened in your name. Contact each bureau separately:
   • Equifax credit freeze
   • Experian credit freeze
   • TransUnion credit freeze
3. Or place a free fraud alert. A fraud alert tells lenders to verify your identity before opening credit. Contact one bureau and it must notify the other two. An initial alert lasts one year.
4. Check your credit reports. Get free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com, the official site, and look for accounts you don't recognize.
5. Change passwords. If an account password may be involved, change it, and change it anywhere else you reused it. Turn on two-step verification where you can.
6. Watch your statements for bank, card, insurance, and medical charges you don't recognize, and be wary of calls, texts, or emails that mention the breach and ask for information.
7. If someone uses your information, report it and get a recovery plan at IdentityTheft.gov (Federal Trade Commission).

Read the full what-to-do guide →

Is this breach letter real?

Companies that notify more than 500 Californians must send a sample of the letter to the California Attorney General, so a matching listing on the AG’s site (linked above) is a good sign the notice is genuine. Still, don’t call numbers or click links in an unexpected email or text that mentions a breach. Use the phone number in the mailed letter or on the organization’s own website.