The Yale New Haven Health System (YNHHS) has announced a substantial data breach affecting over 5.5 million patients. This incident stemmed from an “hacking/IT situation” that compromised the hospital’s network server, as detailed by a breach report posted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights.
On March 8, unusual activity was detected within its IT systems, prompting an investigation that showed an unauthorised third party had accessed their network and secured copies of certain patient data. Thankfully, sensitive records such as electronic medical records and financial information were not compromised.
In response, the organisation is offering complimentary credit monitoring and identity protection services to those whose Social Security numbers were affected as a precautionary measure.
Key Points
- The breach affected over 5.5 million patients due to a hacking incident on the YNHHS network server.
- Unauthorised access occurred, but sensitive data including medical records and financial details remain secure.
- Complimentary credit monitoring and identity protection are being offered to affected individuals.
- The breach highlights an increasing trend in ransomware and cyber incidents targeting the healthcare sector.
- Sanitising sensitive patient information access is crucial for healthcare organisations amidst rising cyber threats.
Why should I read this?
This article uncovers a major data breach affecting millions, a stark reminder of the rampant cyber threats facing the healthcare sector today. If you or someone you know is a YNHHS patient, it’s crucial to know how your personal information might be at risk. We’ve read it for you, so you can stay informed and take necessary precautions!