Erie Insurance: Cyberattack Caused Network Outage

Attack locked customers of claims, billing, and online accounts — but did it expose their data, too?

Chris Schafer
Written byChris Schafer
Chris Schafer
Chris SchaferDeputy Managing Editor, News and Marketing Content
  • 15+ years in content creation

  • 7+ years in business and financial services content

Chris is a seasoned writer/editor with past experience across myriad industries, including insurance, SAS, finance, Medicare, logistics, marketing/advertising, and many more.

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Evelyn Pimplaskar
Evelyn PimplaskarEditor-in-Chief, Director of Content
  • 10+ years in insurance and personal finance content

  • 30+ years in media, PR, and content creation

Evelyn leads Insurify’s content team. She’s passionate about creating empowering content to help people transform their financial lives and make sound insurance-buying decisions.

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MacKenzie Korris
Reviewed byMacKenzie Korris
MacKenzie Korris
MacKenzie KorrisInsurance Copy Editor

MacKenzie Korris is an insurance copy editor with a producer’s license for property and casualty insurance in Missouri. He has years of experience in print and digital media, and strives to craft actionable, inclusive copy that fosters smart decision-making through reader autonomy. He has a journalism degree from Saint Louis University.

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A June 7 cyberattack has left Erie Insurance policyholders unable to access their online accounts, Erie’s parent company reported on June 11.

The outage has disabled Erie’s phone systems and prevented customers from contacting the insurer, filing claims, or managing billing issues.

The company submitted a Form 8-K filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to report the June 7 “information security event.” The company also initiated its own incident response protocol.

“We took immediate action to respond to the situation to safeguard our systems and data,” the company said in its June 11 statement, adding the action included implementing safety protocols to safeguard existing systems.

The insurer is now working with law enforcement to determine the source of the attack. 

“We are working with law enforcement and conducting a comprehensive forensic analysis with the assistance of leading cybersecurity experts to gain a full understanding of the event,” said Matthew Cummings, spokesman for Erie Insurance.

Erie warns customers to be wary of scams

In light of the recent attack, Erie Insurance also cautioned customers against potential scams that could target them.

“During this outage, Erie Insurance will not call or email customers to request payments,” the company’s website reads. “As a best practice, do not click on any links from unknown sources or provide your personal information by phone or email,” Cummings added in the statement.

The insurer has more than six million active policies across its auto, business, home, and life offerings. It’s the 18th-largest U.S. property and casualty insurance company by market share, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

What’s next? Other insurers face attacks as well

Erie Insurance isn’t the only Pennsylvania insurer facing a network outage. Philadelphia Insurance, a 2,000-employee insurer based in the city of its namesake, also reported a network outage on the same day.

Philadelphia’s outage has knocked out phones and email, as well as customer online application access.

Cybersecurity experts believe an entity known as the Scattered Spider Group carried out the Philadelphia Insurance attack.

Chris Schafer
Chris SchaferDeputy Managing Editor, News and Marketing Content

Chris is Insurify’s Senior Editor for home insurance. He’s a seasoned writer/editor with past experience across myriad industries, including insurance, SAS, finance, Medicare, logistics, marketing/advertising, and many more. He is passionate about breaking down complex subject material to make important information accessible to everyone. 

Chris began his career as a journalist, managing two weekly newspapers, then moving into marketing and content marketing roles. Before joining Insurify, Chris served as the content strategy manager at Siteimprove and as the content manager at Brandpoint, where he managed a team of content creators. 

Away from work, Chris is an active hockey player and proud father of two rambunctious little girls. Chris holds a Bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in mass communications from the University of Minnesota. 

Evelyn Pimplaskar
Edited byEvelyn PimplaskarEditor-in-Chief, Director of Content
Evelyn Pimplaskar
Evelyn PimplaskarEditor-in-Chief, Director of Content
  • 10+ years in insurance and personal finance content

  • 30+ years in media, PR, and content creation

Evelyn leads Insurify’s content team. She’s passionate about creating empowering content to help people transform their financial lives and make sound insurance-buying decisions.

Featured in

media logomedia logomedia logo
MacKenzie Korris
Reviewed byMacKenzie KorrisInsurance Copy Editor
MacKenzie Korris
MacKenzie KorrisInsurance Copy Editor

MacKenzie Korris is an insurance copy editor with a producer’s license for property and casualty insurance in Missouri. He has years of experience in print and digital media, and strives to craft actionable, inclusive copy that fosters smart decision-making through reader autonomy. He has a journalism degree from Saint Louis University.