Priya PatelTLDR:
- Change Healthcare is notifying customers of a cyberattack that exposed patient information.
- Hackers gained access in February and unleashed a ransomware attack.
In a recent cyberattack, Change Healthcare, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group, announced that they will begin notifying hospitals, insurers, and other customers after hackers gained access to their system in February. The ransomware attack encrypted and froze large parts of the system, causing a disruption in payment and claims processing across the country.
The company is now in the process of reviewing impacted files to determine the extent of the breach. Names, addresses, health insurance information, and personal data like Social Security numbers may have been exposed. However, they have not found any evidence that full medical histories were compromised.
After paying a $22 million bitcoin ransom, UnitedHealth Group confirmed that all core systems, including claims payment and pharmacy processing, are now fully functional. To alleviate concerns, Change Healthcare has been offering two years of credit monitoring and identity theft protection to individuals affected by the attack.
The company expects to start notifying individuals and patients in late July about the breach. It is important for those potentially affected to stay informed and take necessary precautions to safeguard their personal information.
