Anthem Blue Cross Data Breach: What & How It Happened?
Twingate Team
•
Jun 20, 2024
In late 2014, Anthem Blue Cross experienced a data breach that was later revealed to the public in early 2015. Foreign cyber-criminals gained unauthorized access to Anthem's computer systems through malicious email tactics. The breach had significant consequences for Anthem, including financial costs, reputational damages, and legal ramifications. The incident remains one of the largest single compromises of healthcare data in history, affecting millions of members' personal information across various Anthem brands.
How many accounts were compromised?
The breach impacted data related to nearly 80 million individuals.
What data was leaked?
The data exposed in the breach included names, birthdates, Social Security numbers, health care identification numbers, contact information (such as email and home addresses), and income data.
How was Anthem Blue Cross hacked?
Hackers breached Anthem's systems by using a phishing scam to trick an employee into opening a malicious email, which allowed them to deploy malware on the employee's computer. This enabled the hackers to move laterally within Anthem's networks, gain access to employee accounts and systems, and ultimately exfiltrate nearly 80 million members' records from Anthem's data warehouse.
Anthem Blue Cross's solution
In response to the hack, Anthem Blue Cross took several measures to secure its platform and prevent future incidents. This included hiring a cybersecurity firm to investigate the breach and develop measures to prevent future incidents. Anthem also spent $115 million to bolster multiple workplace cybersecurity measures and implement enhanced data protection protocols. While the specifics of these measures remain unclear, the overall goal was to strengthen Anthem's security posture and reduce the risk of similar breaches in the future.
How do I know if I was affected?
Anthem Blue Cross reached out to affected users following the breach. If you were an Anthem Blue Cross member and did not receive a notification, you can visit Have I Been Pwned to check if your credentials were affected.
What should affected users do?
In general, affected users should:
Change Your Passwords: Immediately update your passwords for all affected accounts. Make sure the new passwords are strong and unique, not previously used on any other platform.
Reset Passwords for Other Accounts: If you've used the same or similar passwords for other online accounts, reset those as well. This is crucial as attackers often try using stolen passwords on multiple sites.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Activate 2FA on your affected accounts. Consider enabling this additional security feature on all other important online accounts to significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access.
Monitor Your Accounts: Keep an eye on your accounts for any suspicious activity. If you notice anything unusual, report it to the appropriate platform or financial institution immediately.
For more specific help and instructions related to Anthem Blue Cross's data breach, please contact Anthem Blue Cross support directly.
Where can I go to learn more?
If you want to find more information on the Anthem Blue Cross data breach, check out the following news articles:
Rapidly implement a modern Zero Trust network that is more secure and maintainable than VPNs.
Anthem Blue Cross Data Breach: What & How It Happened?
Twingate Team
•
Jun 20, 2024
In late 2014, Anthem Blue Cross experienced a data breach that was later revealed to the public in early 2015. Foreign cyber-criminals gained unauthorized access to Anthem's computer systems through malicious email tactics. The breach had significant consequences for Anthem, including financial costs, reputational damages, and legal ramifications. The incident remains one of the largest single compromises of healthcare data in history, affecting millions of members' personal information across various Anthem brands.
How many accounts were compromised?
The breach impacted data related to nearly 80 million individuals.
What data was leaked?
The data exposed in the breach included names, birthdates, Social Security numbers, health care identification numbers, contact information (such as email and home addresses), and income data.
How was Anthem Blue Cross hacked?
Hackers breached Anthem's systems by using a phishing scam to trick an employee into opening a malicious email, which allowed them to deploy malware on the employee's computer. This enabled the hackers to move laterally within Anthem's networks, gain access to employee accounts and systems, and ultimately exfiltrate nearly 80 million members' records from Anthem's data warehouse.
Anthem Blue Cross's solution
In response to the hack, Anthem Blue Cross took several measures to secure its platform and prevent future incidents. This included hiring a cybersecurity firm to investigate the breach and develop measures to prevent future incidents. Anthem also spent $115 million to bolster multiple workplace cybersecurity measures and implement enhanced data protection protocols. While the specifics of these measures remain unclear, the overall goal was to strengthen Anthem's security posture and reduce the risk of similar breaches in the future.
How do I know if I was affected?
Anthem Blue Cross reached out to affected users following the breach. If you were an Anthem Blue Cross member and did not receive a notification, you can visit Have I Been Pwned to check if your credentials were affected.
What should affected users do?
In general, affected users should:
Change Your Passwords: Immediately update your passwords for all affected accounts. Make sure the new passwords are strong and unique, not previously used on any other platform.
Reset Passwords for Other Accounts: If you've used the same or similar passwords for other online accounts, reset those as well. This is crucial as attackers often try using stolen passwords on multiple sites.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Activate 2FA on your affected accounts. Consider enabling this additional security feature on all other important online accounts to significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access.
Monitor Your Accounts: Keep an eye on your accounts for any suspicious activity. If you notice anything unusual, report it to the appropriate platform or financial institution immediately.
For more specific help and instructions related to Anthem Blue Cross's data breach, please contact Anthem Blue Cross support directly.
Where can I go to learn more?
If you want to find more information on the Anthem Blue Cross data breach, check out the following news articles:
Rapidly implement a modern Zero Trust network that is more secure and maintainable than VPNs.
Anthem Blue Cross Data Breach: What & How It Happened?
Twingate Team
•
Jun 20, 2024
In late 2014, Anthem Blue Cross experienced a data breach that was later revealed to the public in early 2015. Foreign cyber-criminals gained unauthorized access to Anthem's computer systems through malicious email tactics. The breach had significant consequences for Anthem, including financial costs, reputational damages, and legal ramifications. The incident remains one of the largest single compromises of healthcare data in history, affecting millions of members' personal information across various Anthem brands.
How many accounts were compromised?
The breach impacted data related to nearly 80 million individuals.
What data was leaked?
The data exposed in the breach included names, birthdates, Social Security numbers, health care identification numbers, contact information (such as email and home addresses), and income data.
How was Anthem Blue Cross hacked?
Hackers breached Anthem's systems by using a phishing scam to trick an employee into opening a malicious email, which allowed them to deploy malware on the employee's computer. This enabled the hackers to move laterally within Anthem's networks, gain access to employee accounts and systems, and ultimately exfiltrate nearly 80 million members' records from Anthem's data warehouse.
Anthem Blue Cross's solution
In response to the hack, Anthem Blue Cross took several measures to secure its platform and prevent future incidents. This included hiring a cybersecurity firm to investigate the breach and develop measures to prevent future incidents. Anthem also spent $115 million to bolster multiple workplace cybersecurity measures and implement enhanced data protection protocols. While the specifics of these measures remain unclear, the overall goal was to strengthen Anthem's security posture and reduce the risk of similar breaches in the future.
How do I know if I was affected?
Anthem Blue Cross reached out to affected users following the breach. If you were an Anthem Blue Cross member and did not receive a notification, you can visit Have I Been Pwned to check if your credentials were affected.
What should affected users do?
In general, affected users should:
Change Your Passwords: Immediately update your passwords for all affected accounts. Make sure the new passwords are strong and unique, not previously used on any other platform.
Reset Passwords for Other Accounts: If you've used the same or similar passwords for other online accounts, reset those as well. This is crucial as attackers often try using stolen passwords on multiple sites.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Activate 2FA on your affected accounts. Consider enabling this additional security feature on all other important online accounts to significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access.
Monitor Your Accounts: Keep an eye on your accounts for any suspicious activity. If you notice anything unusual, report it to the appropriate platform or financial institution immediately.
For more specific help and instructions related to Anthem Blue Cross's data breach, please contact Anthem Blue Cross support directly.
Where can I go to learn more?
If you want to find more information on the Anthem Blue Cross data breach, check out the following news articles:
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