Healthcare Data Breach: 100 Million Records Exposed in Largest Attack Yet
Major Healthcare Data Breach Identified
A staggering new update has confirmed that February’s UnitedHealth data breach has impacted over 100 million Americans, marking it as the largest healthcare data breach in U.S. history. The fallout extends beyond individual patients, affecting entire families and highlighting a critical vulnerability in healthcare data security.
Understanding the Attack
The revised figure was disclosed on Oct. 24 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights. A ransomware group called ALPHV targeted UnitedHealth Change Health's payment processing system during February 2024. This attack not only exposed sensitive data but also crippled services across hospitals, clinics, and medical practices nationwide.
Focus on Recovery
UnitedHealth reportedly paid the ransomware hackers $22 million in hopes of recovering stolen data. Unfortunately, the hackers reneged on the deal, leaving tens of millions of Americans' information at risk on the dark web.
We continue to encourage affected consumers to remain vigilant and monitor their healthcare information closely.
This article was prepared using information from open sources in accordance with the principles of Ethical Policy. The editorial team is not responsible for absolute accuracy, as it relies on data from the sources referenced.