Receiving notice that your information was involved in a medical data breach can be incredibly unsettling, as someone now has access to not only your personal information but also sensitive details regarding your medical history. Unfortunately, medical data breaches are not uncommon, so understanding how and why these happen is critical. The following blog explores what you should know about these cyber attacks, the steps you can take to protect yourself in the aftermath of these matters, and the importance of working with a Michigan identity theft lawyer to help guide you through these difficult times.
Why Are Medical Providers Often Targeted By Hackers?
Unfortunately, there are a number of healthcare and medical data breaches that occur for a number of reasons. One of the primary reasons that these breaches are so common is the high value of medical records. Not only do these files contain sensitive information about patients, like their insurance information, billing addresses, payment methods, birthdates, and even social security numbers, but these records are packed with highly sensitive medical information about each patient. As such, hackers know that hospitals and medical groups are willing to pay considerable ransom amounts to have this information returned. If the hospital does not want to pay, they can package the personal information of victims to sell at a high price on the dark web, resulting in identity theft.
Data breaches are also common because many medical providers and groups have outdated systems or less-than-ideal cybersecurity setups. As such, these organizations are not equipped to prevent cyberattacks on their systems and are even less prepared to respond to a data breach.
What Steps Should I Take Following a Medical Data Breach?
If you discover that your medical records were involved in a data breach, understanding the steps you can take to mitigate the risk that your identity will be compromised is critical.
Generally, one of the most important steps you can take if you receive notice that your information may have been compromised is to contact the credit reporting bureaus to place a fraud alert on your account. This can help prevent additional accounts from opening in your name, as the creditor will see the alert on your report and is then required to confirm your identity before extending lines of credit or loans in your name.
You should also take the necessary steps to monitor your credit and accounts in the months following the breach. Though the fraud alert can help, there may have been action taken before you discovered the breach. As such, regularly checking your credit reports and reviewing bank and credit card statements can help you stay alert to any unauthorized charges or transactions. The sooner you dispute these charges, the easier it can be to have them removed from your accounts.
It can be incredibly upsetting to discover that your information was involved in a data breach. However, it’s imperative to understand that you have rights in these matters. At Lyngklip & Associates, our team is committed to helping you navigate the aftermath of a data breach and identity theft to reclaim your identity. Additionally, we can help you pursue legal action against the negligent company responsible for the breach. Contact us today to learn how we can fight for you.
