Overview
The Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) disclosed on October 29, 2026 that a breach of the Florida Student Financial Aid website exposed personal data on roughly 4.9 million people who applied for state financial aid. The department says it became aware of the incident on October 19 and that it is now contained.
What Was Exposed
| Data type | Exposed |
|---|---|
| Full names | Yes |
| Social Security numbers | Yes |
| Dates of birth | Yes |
| Home addresses | Yes |
| Phone numbers | Yes |
| Email addresses | Yes |
| Gender | Yes |
FLDOE says financial aid disbursements, tuition payments, scholarships, grants, and student loans are not affected.
Response
- The financial aid website was taken offline, and the department warned that other FLDOE sites may see temporary disruptions.
- FLDOE is working with the Florida Digital Service and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
- The breach was reported to the state Attorney General's office.
- Affected people are urged to monitor credit reports and financial accounts.
FLDOE has not described how the intrusion happened or named a suspected attacker, and no group has been reported as claiming it.
Context
The disclosure follows a California education department breach a week earlier, a Florida DMV breach last month, and an alleged attack on a central Florida county clerk's website. Government education and benefits portals continue to be attractive targets because they concentrate SSNs and birth dates.
Recommendations for Affected Individuals
- Place a credit freeze with all three bureaus. It is free and blocks most new-account fraud.
- Monitor credit reports and financial accounts for unfamiliar activity.
- Request an IRS Identity Protection PIN to prevent fraudulent tax filings.
- Be wary of phishing that cites this breach, including fake "free credit monitoring" offers. Use only contact details published on official state sites.
- Do not share SSNs by email, text, or phone with unsolicited contacts.