Harver Health Insurance Counter Fraud Group: Cyberattack Targets Health Insurer Records

HARVER HEALTH INSURANCE COUNTER FRAUD GROUP
Cyberattack Targets Health Insurer Records
One of the US' largest health insurers, Anthem, has announced last week that millions of
their employee and client records have been illegally accessed through a sophisticated
cyberattack.
While Anthem is still cooperating with ongoing investigations regarding the attack, the initial
information given was that around 80 million customer and employee records in a database were
compromised. The data apparently include addresses, birthdates, names, employment and income
information.
However, they claim that credit card data were not included in the breach and stated that medical
records and doctor information were likely not compromised.
This could be one of the largest breaches in client data to date and the largest in the healthcare
sector, noted Harver Health Insurance Counter Fraud Group, as Anthem owns a number of brands
like Anthem Blue Shield, Anthem Blue Cross, Empire Blue Cross and Blue Cross of Georgia.
According to the health insurer, they learned of the breach by the end of January and have notified
the FBI promptly. Cybersecurity firm Mandiant was also called in to secure Anthem's computer
systems.

Anthem Chief Executive Joseph Swedish, whose personal data was involved as well, apologized
through a letter and emphasized that they are working continuously to ensure their clients' and
staff's data.
Security breach threats are particularly concerning in the financial and healthcare sectors that
usually collect sensitive information about clients. Even without credit card information,
combinations of names, birthdates and Social Security numbers would be more than enough to
gain a lot of money in the black market. In fact, the FBI has already ranked cybercrime as a top law
enforcement activity.
Technology experts from Harver Health Insurance Counter Fraud Group and other law
enforcement officials are saying that getting hacked is inevitable and it's only a matter of when.
They admitted that it is a challenge to keep up with the cyber criminals especially since most of
them are based abroad.
Anthem promised that it will give free credit monitoring and identity repair services for affected
clients.