SEC orders Equiniti to pay $850K over alleged lax cybersecurity
By Adrianne Appel2024-08-21T21:03:00
Equiniti Trust Company has agreed to pay $850,000 to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to settle allegations that its failed security measures allowed millions in client funds to be stolen in two cyber incidents.
Equiniti, formerly known as American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, experienced two cyber intrusions, in 2022 and 2023, respectively, which led to the loss of more than $6.6 million in client funds, the SEC said a press release Tuesday. American Stock reimbursed clients who experienced losses, the agency noted.
However, it was American Stock’s poor security measures that allowed the intruders to be successful at stealing client assets, the SEC said in its order.