Summary:
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Significant Data Breach
UnitedHealth Group revealed that a ransomware attack in February has compromised the private health information of over 100 million individuals, marking it as one of the largest data breaches in U.S. history. -
Scope of the Attack
The breach, reported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, represents the largest known digital theft of medical records in the United States, with potentially lifelong ramifications for the affected individuals. -
Types of Stolen Information
The compromised data includes personal details such as names, addresses, Social Security numbers, health diagnoses, medications, and even financial information linked to claims and payments. -
Details of the Cyberattack
The attack became public on February 21 when Change Healthcare temporarily took its network offline, leading to widespread disruptions in the healthcare sector that relied on its services. -
Criminal Activity and Recovery Efforts
The ALPHV/BlackCat ransomware gang, responsible for the attack, allegedly took a $22 million ransom and subsequently vanished. The U.S. government has increased its reward for information about the gang to $10 million, as efforts to apprehend them continue to face challenges.
Read more at: TechCrunch
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