The Office of the Maine Attorney General announced that in a significant cybersecurity breach, the personal, medical and financial records of more than 569,000 Americans have been exposed.

What Happened: The California-based non-profit organization NorthBay Healthcare Corporation fell victim to an external system breach. The unauthorized entity infiltrated the firm’s computer systems from January 11 to April 1, 2024.

According to the report by the Office of the Maine Attorney General, the breach laid bare sensitive data such as names, birthdays, Social Security numbers, passport numbers, financial account numbers, medical and biometric information, health insurance details, driver's license numbers, and state or other government-issued identification numbers.

The intruders also procured usernames and passwords, credit or debit card numbers, expiration dates, security codes, and personal identification numbers (PINs).

Also Read: TD Bank Confirms Data Breach: Account Numbers and Sensitive Customer Info Exposed

NorthBay Health has since overhauled its security protocols to avert future data breaches. The firm is also advising affected customers to keep a close eye on their credit reports and account statements, offering a complimentary one-year membership to Experian IdentityWorks. 

Currently, the firm has not detected any misuse of its customer data for fraudulent activities or identity theft.

Why It Matters: This incident underscores the growing threat of cyber attacks on healthcare institutions, which often hold a wealth of sensitive information.

The breach at NorthBay Health is a stark reminder of the importance of robust cybersecurity measures in protecting such critical data.

The incident also highlights the potential risks to individuals whose personal information is exposed in such breaches, including the possibility of identity theft and financial fraud.

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