The healthcare industry has recently become a major goal for hackers. You may remember the 2024 Ascension Attack.
The changes to the Healthcare breach were also massive. United Health initially claimed that 100 million Americans were affected, but later raised the number to 190 million.
There are countless other incidents, and now you can add another incident to your list. Community Health Center, Inc, a Connecticut-based federally qualified health center. (CHC) discloses data breaches following criminal cyberattacks on its systems.
The attack affected more than 1 million people in the US
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A medical professional working on a laptop. (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutsson)
What you need to know
Community Health Center, Inc. (CHC) detected a data breach on January 2nd after identifying abnormal activity within the computer system. The investigation confirmed that skilled hackers accessed and extracted data but did not delete or lock the information. If CHC's claims are accurate, this is a positive result. Hackers often deploy ransomware, which is a type of attack in which they lock the system and demand payment before regaining access.
In a regulatory filing with the Maine Attorney General's Office, the CHC said 1,060,936 people were affected by the data breaches. The type of information that was compromised will vary depending on the individual's relationship with the CHC. Patient data that may have been accessed include name, date of birth, address, phone number, email address, diagnosis, treatment details, test results, Social Security number, and health insurance information.
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For individuals who are not CHC patients but receive Covid-19 services at CHC clinics, the infringed data includes names, date of birth, phone number, email address, address, gender, race, ethnicity and insurance. Details may be provided. Additional information such as test dates such as type, dose, and administration date, results, and vaccine details may have also been affected. In rare cases, Social Security numbers were also included in the violations.
The organization did not reveal how hackers gained access to data or whether appropriate cybersecurity measures were in place at the time of the violation. While CHC ensures that the system is no longer at risk, the same cannot be said for patients who are now likely to be targeted by a variety of cyberattacks.
A healthcare worker looking at the information on his phone. (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutsson)
Hidden Costs of Free Apps: Your Personal Information
CHC response
The CHC said hackers' access was finished within hours and the day-to-day operations were not disrupted. To enhance cybersecurity, CHC claims to have implemented advanced surveillance software and enhanced system protection. The organization said there is currently no evidence that compromised data has been misused.
The Health Centre offers free identity theft protection services to all patients and Covid-19 service recipients whose Social Security Number is involved in the violation. The organization also encourages individuals whose Social Security numbers are not affected and is taking additional steps to protect their information.
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Hacker illustration at work. (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutsson)
How to delete private data from the Internet
Six ways to protect yourself from changes in healthcare data breach
1. Delete your personal information from the Internet. Violations revealed confidential personal data and became essential to reducing online footprints. Although there is no service that guarantees complete data deletion, a reputable data deletion service can significantly limit your exposure. These services systematically monitor and erase personal information from numerous websites and data brokers. Please see the top picks for data deletion services.
2. Beware of mailbox communications: Because the address is present in the compromised data, fraudsters can misuse this violation and send fraudulent letters. Beware of emails claiming missed delivery, account suspension, or security alerts. Always check the reliability of such communications before taking any action or action.
3. Beware of phishing attempts and use powerful antivirus software. Scammers can target you with phishing attacks using compromised email or phone numbers. Please be aware of messages asking for personal information or containing suspicious links. To protect yourself, make sure all your devices have powerful antivirus software installed. Get the best 2025 Antivirus Protection Winners picks for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.
4. Account Monitoring: Given the scope of this violation, regular bank account monitoring, credit card statements and other financial accounts are important. Look for fraudulent transactions or suspicious activity and report the issue immediately to your bank or credit card provider.
5. Recognise and report social security fraud: If your social security number is public, you may be a target for related fraud. Formal communication on social security issues usually occurs via mail rather than by telephone or email. Visit the Social Security Bureau's fraud information page to learn more about finding and reporting fraud.
6. Investing in Personal Information Theft Protection: Data breaches occur every day and most do not create headlines, but identity theft protection services will notify you if they are affected. Personal information theft protection services monitor personal information such as social security numbers (SSNs), phone numbers, email addresses, and can alert you if it is being sold on the dark web or used to open an account. Masu. It also helps to freeze bank and credit card accounts to prevent further fraudulent use by criminals.
One of the best parts of using identity theft protection services is to have identity theft insurance up to $1 million to cover losses and legal costs, and US-based case managers make losses It may include a White Glove fraud resolution team that will help you recover. . Check out my tips and best choices on how to protect yourself from identity theft.
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Important points of cart
The CHC violation may not be as large as the UnitedHealth attack, but it remains a serious incident, as more than a million individuals have been affected. Cybercriminals can leverage stolen data in a variety of ways, from identity theft to targeted phishing scams. The CHC has taken steps to protect its system, but affected systems must remain vigilant. Beware of unexpected emails, phone calls, or messages requesting personal information and consider monitoring your financial and medical accounts for suspicious activities.
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