Change Health Attack: Details Emerge; Breach Will Top Record
Healthcare Info Security
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Contributed by: Drex DeFord
Summary
UnitedHealth Group has acknowledged a significant breach in its Change Healthcare unit, potentially marking the largest health data breach in U.S. history, with the incident surpassing the Anthem Inc. 2015 hack which impacted nearly 79 million individuals. Experts are urging healthcare organizations to monitor updates from UnitedHealth Group and to apply due diligence under HIPAA regulations. The breach was facilitated through credential compromise, highlighting the importance of stringent security measures including multifactor authentication and rigorous monitoring to prevent similar incidents. UnitedHealth Group has also paid a ransom to the attackers, with reports indicating a payment of $22 million to the BlackCat ransomware group. The situation underscores the critical need for advanced cybersecurity strategies within the healthcare sector to protect sensitive patient information.
