(TheConservativeTimes.org) – Putting Americans at risk of identity theft, a shocking data breach at ConnectOnCall exposed the medical records and Social Security numbers of over 910,000 patients.
The breach occurred between February 16 and May 12, 2024, when unauthorized individuals gained access to provider-patient communications on ConnectOnCall.
The stolen data includes names, phone numbers, medical record numbers, birth dates, health conditions, treatments, prescriptions, and in some cases, Social Security Numbers.
Phreesia, the parent company of ConnectOnCall, claims to have discovered the breach on May 12, 2024, and took immediate action by involving cybersecurity experts and notifying federal law enforcement.
However, this response came far too late for the nearly one million patients whose personal information is now in the hands of cybercriminals.
The fact that ConnectOnCall took months to detect the unauthorized access raises serious questions about its cybersecurity practices and the overall state of data protection in the healthcare industry.
ConnectOnCall has been taken offline for security improvements, but the damage has already been done.
The permanent nature of health data means that this information can be exploited for identity theft and fraudulent activities for years to come, leaving victims vulnerable to ongoing threats.
While Phreesia claims to be offering identity and credit monitoring services to those whose Social Security Numbers were compromised, this gesture falls short of addressing the full scope of the problem.
Americans must remain vigilant and take steps to protect themselves in the face of these ongoing threats.
This includes monitoring accounts, using strong passwords and two-factor authentication, avoiding phishing scams and considering identity theft protection services.
Copyright 2024, TheConservativeTimes.org
