Cognizant Alerts Customers After Data Breach, Offers $1 Million Identity Theft Protection

IT services company Cognizant has alerted affected customers about a data breach that may have exposed personal information, including potentially sensitive identification details. The company said it has not found evidence so far that the exposed information has been misused.

As a precaution, Cognizant is offering affected individuals 24 months of identity theft protection, including credit monitoring and up to $1 million in identity theft insurance reimbursement.

Cognizant Says Data Breach Occurred in April

According to the company's customer notification, the data security incident took place on April 21, 2026. Cognizant said it was informing affected individuals as a precautionary measure while continuing to assess the potential impact of the breach.

Reports have linked the incident to a cybercrime group identified as CoinbaseCartel, which has reportedly claimed responsibility. The exposed information may include Social Security numbers and other personal data.

However, Cognizant said there is currently no evidence that the affected information has been misused.

Customers Advised to Take Precautionary Steps

Cognizant has advised affected customers to take steps to protect themselves from possible identity theft and financial fraud.

The company has suggested that customers consider filing a police report if they believe their information has been misused. It has also recommended placing a security freeze on credit reports.

A credit freeze restricts access to an individual's credit report, making it more difficult for fraudsters to open new financial accounts or obtain credit using stolen personal information.

Cognizant Offers 24 Months of Identity Theft Protection

To support affected customers, Cognizant is offering identity theft protection services through IDX.

The protection will be available for 24 months and includes:

• Credit monitoring
• CyberScan monitoring
• Identity recovery assistance
• Support in case of suspected identity theft
• Up to $1 million in insurance reimbursement coverage

The identity recovery service is designed to help individuals respond if their personal information is used fraudulently.

Data Security Concerns Grow for India's IT Sector

The Cognizant data breach comes amid increasing concerns about cybersecurity and the protection of sensitive employee and customer information across the IT sector.

Several major Indian IT companies, including Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), HCLTech and Hexaware, have recently denied separate reports alleging data leaks involving their organisations.

The incidents and allegations have renewed attention on the cybersecurity risks faced by technology companies that manage large volumes of personal, financial and corporate data.

What Cognizant Customers Should Do

While Cognizant has said there is no confirmed evidence of misuse so far, affected individuals may consider monitoring their financial and credit activity closely.

Customers should also be cautious about suspicious emails, calls or messages seeking personal information, as exposed data can potentially be used in phishing or identity theft attempts.

The company is providing identity protection services as a preventive measure while the broader impact of the data breach continues to be assessed.