Hospital Security Breach Steals Data from 4.5 Million Patients

Hospital Security Breach Steals Data from 4.5 Million Patients

  • By Matt Holden
  • Aug 20, 2014

Hospital Security Breach Steals Data from 4.5 Million PatientsAccording to a report, hackers have stolen personal information belonging to patients who received treatment at several Central Florida hospitals. Community Health Systems has 206 hospitals in the United States, and reports say hackers in China stole the data of 4.5 million patients in April and June.

The hackers were able to get names, Social Security numbers, physical addresses, birthdays and phone numbers.

The following Central Florida hospitals were affected: Saint Cloud Regional Medical Center, Wuesthoff Health in Rockledge, Wuesthoff Health in Melbourne, Munroe Regional in Ocala, Heart of Florida in Davenport, Bartow Regional and Lake Wales Medical Center.

Experts advise those who have received treatment from a doctor’s office tied to a network-owned hospital or received a referral by an outside doctor to one of the hospitals in the past five years to check their credit report.

Community Health Systems is planning to offer the victims of the data breach identity protection and says the malware has been erased.

About the Author

Matt Holden is an Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media, Inc. He received his MFA and BA in journalism from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. He currently writes and edits for Occupational Health & Safety magazine, and Security Today.

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