W.W. Grainger

Disclosed Sep 18, 201757,992 affectedConfirmed

W. W. Grainger, Inc., (WWGI), the covered entity (CE), reported that an employee’s laptop containing the protected health information (PHI) of 1,594 individuals was stolen from his unlocked vehicle. The PHI involved included names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, addresses, and other demographic information. WWGI notified HHS, affected individuals, the media, and provided substitute notice. As a result of OCR’s investigation, WWGI implemented additional administrative safeguards and retrained its staff. OCR obtained assurances that the CE implemented the corrective actions noted.

What is known

People affected	57,992 (as reported by the organization)
Disclosed	Sep 18, 2017
Discovered	Aug 23, 2017
Happened	Sep 26, 2017
Attack	Lost or stolen device
Data exposed	NamesSocial Security numbersGovernment IDsPayment cardsHealth
Sector	Insurance · US
Status	Confirmed

Sources

Official noticeoag.ca.gov

California Attorney General breach notice: W.W. Grainger

Official noticeatg.wa.gov

Washington Attorney General breach notice: W.W. Grainger

Official noticejustice.oregon.gov

Oregon DOJ breach notice: W.W. Grainger

Official noticein.gov

Indiana Attorney General 2017 data breach report: W.W.Grainger

Official noticemaine.gov

Maine Attorney General breach notice archive: W.W. Grainger

Official noticeocrportal.hhs.gov

HHS OCR breach report (archive, resolved): W. W. Grainger (Health Plan, IL)

Notices filed

Residents of WASep 18, 2017

Washington AG725 people

TotalSep 18, 2017

HHS archive1,594 people

Residents of CASep 19, 2017

California AGCount not stated

Residents of INSep 19, 2017

Indiana AG530 people

Residents of MESep 19, 2017

Maine AG54 people

Residents of ORSep 20, 2017

Oregon DOJ57,992 people

Residents of CAApr 20, 2018

California AGCount not stated

Residents of ORApr 20, 2018

Oregon DOJ17,902 people

Residents of MEApr 20, 2018

Maine AG110 people

Other breaches at W.W. Grainger

Breach, details not statedExposed names and passwords. Reported to the California AG.USNov 18, 2015

History of this record

sector2026-09-25

other to insuranceby backfillSource

data_types2026-09-25

["names","ssn","government-id","payment-card"] to ["names","ssn","government-id","payment-card","health"]by backfillSource

summary2026-09-25

empty to W. W. Grainger, Inc., (WWGI), the covered entity (CE), reported that an employee’s laptop containing the protected health information (PHI) of 1,594 individuals was stolen from his unlocked vehicle. The PHI involved included names, dates ofby backfillSource

data_types2026-09-25

["names"] to ["names","ssn","government-id","payment-card"]by backfillSource

data_types2026-09-25

[] to ["names"]by backfillSource

records_basis2026-09-25

empty to organizationby backfillSource

records2026-09-25

empty to 57992by backfillSource

attack2026-09-25

unknown to lost-deviceby backfillSource

disclosed2026-09-25

2017-09-19 to 2017-09-18by backfillSource

discovered2026-09-25

empty to 2017-08-23by backfillSource

disclosed2026-09-25

2018-04-20 to 2017-09-19by backfillSource

Added2026-09-25

First recordedby backfillSource

First seen 2026-09-25 (California AG), confirmed by California AG. Record counts are as reported. Not legal advice.

Everything about W.W. Grainger