Southern Illinois University Data Breach (August 2026): What Was Exposed and What To Do

What to do now

Steps chosen from the information listed in the official filings. Your own letter may list more.

1. Freeze your credit at all three bureaus

   A credit freeze stops new credit accounts being opened in your name. It is free by law and you can lift it when you need credit: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.

2. Get an IRS Identity Protection PIN

   An IP PIN stops someone else filing a tax return with your Social Security number. Get one from the IRS at irs.gov.

3. Watch for phishing calls, texts and emails

   Scammers often contact people after a breach, pretending to be the organization, a bank or a government agency. Do not give your Social Security number, passwords or codes to anyone who contacts you first.

4. Check your credit reports

   You can get free credit reports from all three bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com, the official site.

5. Report identity theft if you see signs of it

   The Federal Trade Commission's IdentityTheft.gov gives you a personal recovery plan.

Is the letter real?

The agency published an official copy of the notice. Compare your letter with it:

• Official copy of the notice letter (California Attorney General, filed Aug 20, 2026)

Letters usually list a phone number for questions. Before calling, check that it matches the number in the official copy linked above.

Never give your Social Security number, bank details or passwords to someone who contacts you first.

Timeline

1. Sep 29, 2025 Incident began (earliest date reported) source
2. Jul 24, 2026 Organization discovered the incident source
3. Aug 20, 2026 Reported to California AG source
4. Aug 21, 2026 Reported to Texas AG source

Sources

1. California Attorney General Notice filed Aug 20, 2026
   Filed as “Southern Illinois University” · Official copy of the letter
2. Texas Attorney General Notice filed Aug 21, 2026
   Filed as “Southern Illinois University” · 1,597 Texas residents · total 44,118
   The link opens the agency's list; search it for the organization name.

Last updated Oct 20, 2026. Our summaries are written in our own words from the official filings above. Spotted an error? Report a correction.