UnitedHealth Group Announces Health Data Breach Following Cyberattack
UnitedHealth Group has confirmed that a cyberattack on its technology unit, Change Healthcare, has resulted in a breach of health and personal information. The company estimates that a ‘substantial proportion’ of Americans may be affected, but the exact number of individuals impacted remains unknown.
The cyberattack occurred on February 21st and was perpetrated by a hacking group called ALPHV, also known as ‘BlackCat.’ UnitedHealth has stated that the attack disrupted payments to doctors and healthcare facilities nationwide.
The company is actively monitoring the situation and working to identify affected individuals. It is estimated that several months will pass before enough information is gathered to notify impacted individuals.
UnitedHealth is also monitoring the internet and dark web to determine if any data has been published, and it is working with external industry experts to assess the situation.
The cyberattack on Change Healthcare has sent shockwaves across the nation’s healthcare system, as the unit accessed approximately one in three U.S. patient records through its health technology offerings.
