AUSTIN (AP) - The state comptroller’s office says it has spent $1.8 million dealing with fallout from the public exposure of personal information, including Social Security numbers, of millions of Texans.

R.J. DeSilva, spokesman for Texas Comptroller Susan Combs, says the office spent $1.2 million mailing letters to the 3.5 million people affected by the security breach.

DeSilva tells the Austin American-Statesman another $393,000 was spent to set up a call center offering assistance. The state hired computer consultants to examine information security at a cost of $290,000.

State and federal authorities are investigating after personal information, including some driver license numbers and birthdates, was left on a comptroller server that was accessible to the public.

The problem was discovered March 31 after some data had been posted for more than a year.

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