Aventura-area families who have applied for state financial aid in Florida may be among 4.9 million people whose personal data was potentially exposed in a data breach.

The Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) announced Thursday, Oct. 29, that staff discovered unauthorized criminal access to the Florida Student Financial Aid website, FloridaStudentFinancialAidSG.org, on Oct. 19. The department said it activated cybersecurity response protocols to stop the activity, contain the breach and secure its systems, according to the FLDOE's data breach page.

The FLDOE said anyone who has previously applied for financial aid in Florida may have been affected. The department has not released a breakdown of affected individuals by county or school district. No statement from Miami-Dade County Public Schools about the breach appears in available public records.

What data was exposed

The information potentially exposed includes Social Security numbers, first and last names, dates of birth, home addresses, phone numbers, email addresses and gender identification codes, according to the FLDOE. Not all 4.9 million individuals were necessarily affected. The specific information involved may vary by person.

An FLDOE spokesperson told 10 Tampa Bay: "The security of student and family information is a responsibility we take seriously."

The department declined to comment on the nature of the attack or who was responsible, The Record reported. The FLDOE described the matter as an ongoing criminal investigation.

Financial aid not affected

The FLDOE said the breach will not put students' financial aid at risk. Aid disbursements, tuition payments, scholarships, grants and student loans will not be delayed or affected, according to the department.

The FLDOE has notified the Florida Attorney General's Office as required under Florida Statute 501.171, which governs the security of personal information. The department is also working with the Florida Digital Service and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).

The financial aid website has been taken down. Other department websites and online services may experience temporary disruptions while the response continues.

Steps for affected families

The FLDOE is urging anyone who has applied for state financial aid to monitor bank accounts and credit reports for suspicious activity. The department recommends placing a fraud alert or credit freeze with Equifax, Experian or TransUnion and using Federal Trade Commission resources at identitytheft.gov/databreach.

Free credit reports are available at AnnualCreditReport.com or by calling 1-877-322-8228.

Families with questions can email [email protected]. The FLDOE said it will post updates to its dedicated breach page as verified details become available.