Malware
Massive Data Breach at US Cancer Center: Sensitive Information of 827,000 Patients Compromised
A data breach at US cancer center Moffitt Cancer Center exposed the personal information of over 827,000 patients. The cyber-attack targeted the center’s third-party vendor, Blackbaud, and compromised data such as names, dates of birth, and contact details. The center is now offering free credit monitoring and identity theft protection to affected individuals.
Imagine this: you’re dealing with a life-threatening illness like cancer, and then you find out your personal information has been exposed in a data breach. That’s the reality for over 820,000 patients of the City of Hope cancer treatment and research center.
About City of Hope
City of Hope is a prestigious comprehensive cancer center designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), providing treatment for cancer, diabetes, and other serious diseases. With its headquarters in Duarte, California, the organization operates oncology clinics across the US.
But even top-notch healthcare organizations like City of Hope aren’t immune to cybersecurity threats.
The Data Breach
City of Hope recently published a notice on its website stating that it suffered a security breach between September and October last year. The organization became aware of suspicious activity on some of its systems around October 13, 2023, and immediately implemented measures to minimize disruption to its operations.
With the help of a leading cybersecurity firm, City of Hope discovered that an unauthorized third party accessed a subset of their systems and obtained copies of some files between September 19, 2023, and October 12, 2023.
What Information Was Exposed?
The sensitive data that may have been exposed includes:
- Full names
- Email addresses
- Phone numbers
- Birth dates
- Social security numbers
- Driver’s licenses
- Government IDs
- Bank account numbers
- Credit card details
- Health insurance information
- Medical records and history
City of Hope emphasizes that not every data type listed above was compromised for every patient, so the level of exposure varies per case. Thankfully, there’s no evidence of identity theft or fraud occurring due to this incident.
According to City of Hope’s disclosure to the Office of the Maine Attorney General, 827,149 patients are impacted by this data breach nationwide.
What’s Being Done?
City of Hope has already implemented additional defenses to prevent similar incidents in the future. They’re also offering two years of identity monitoring service coverage at no cost for patients who received personalized notifications.
If you’re potentially impacted by this breach, it’s crucial to monitor your banking statements and stay vigilant against unsolicited communications, attempts to defraud, or requests for additional information.
The type of cyberattack that led to the data breach at City of Hope remains unknown, and no ransomware groups have taken responsibility for the attack.
What Can You Do?
As a concerned reader, you might be wondering how to protect yourself and your loved ones from similar incidents. That’s where we come in. At IT Services, our mission is to help you navigate the complex world of cybersecurity and stay one step ahead of potential threats.
Don’t wait for a data breach to happen to you. Contact us today to learn more about our services, and keep coming back to stay informed on the latest cybersecurity news and insights.