Anthem medical data breach

Anthem Medical Data Breach

The Anthem Medical Data Breach was a significant cybersecurity incident that occurred in February 2015, affecting Anthem Inc., one of the largest health insurance companies in the United States. This breach exposed the personal information of approximately 78.8 million individuals, including their names, dates of birth, medical IDs, social security numbers, addresses, email addresses, employment information, and income data. The breach is considered one of the largest in the history of the healthcare industry and raised serious concerns about the security of personal health information (PHI) and the need for stringent cybersecurity measures within the healthcare sector.

Background

Anthem Inc., formerly known as WellPoint, is a leading health insurance provider in the U.S., offering a range of health care services and insurance plans to individuals and employers. The company operates Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in several states and has a vast network of healthcare providers and facilities.

The Breach

The breach was first discovered by Anthem on January 29, 2015, but it is believed that the attackers had gained unauthorized access to Anthem's IT system as early as December 2014. The attackers utilized sophisticated techniques to infiltrate Anthem's database and exfiltrate personal and medical information. The breach was publicly disclosed by Anthem on February 4, 2015, and it was reported that the attackers might have been part of an advanced persistent threat (APT) group, possibly with foreign sponsorship.

Impact

The Anthem Medical Data Breach had a profound impact on the affected individuals, exposing them to potential identity theft and fraud. The breach also had significant financial implications for Anthem, including the costs associated with notifying affected individuals, providing credit monitoring services, and settling lawsuits and regulatory fines. In 2018, Anthem agreed to pay a record $115 million to settle a class-action lawsuit related to the breach.

Response

In response to the breach, Anthem took several steps to secure its IT systems and protect the affected individuals. These measures included: - Offering free credit monitoring and identity protection services to the affected individuals. - Enhancing its cybersecurity infrastructure and implementing additional security measures to prevent future breaches. - Cooperating with law enforcement and cybersecurity experts to investigate the breach and improve security protocols.

Regulatory and Industry Response

The Anthem Medical Data Breach prompted a broader discussion within the healthcare industry and among regulators about the need for improved cybersecurity practices. The incident led to calls for stricter regulations and standards for protecting PHI, as well as increased scrutiny of how healthcare organizations manage and secure patient data.

See Also

• Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
• Cybersecurity in healthcare
• Data breach
• Identity theft