According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights portal, Ascension Health – a private healthcare firm based in Missouri – had a hacking incident that exposed the private information of 437,329 people.
The breach was detected on December 5, 2024, and an investigation was launched to determine its root cause. It revealed that on January 21, 2025, Ascension shared sensitive information with a former business partner, which resulted in the theft of data. This incident occurred due to a security vulnerability in the third-party software they were using.
In a letter to the affected victims, Ascension confirms that the exposed data includes:
Demographic data:
Clinical information of inpatient visits:
After confirming the breach, Ascension started implementing enhanced cybersecurity protection measures to prevent an incident like this from ever happening again. Additionally, the healthcare company is offering all victims two years’ worth of identity theft and monitoring services. This includes Fraud Consultation, Credit Monitoring, and Identity Theft Restoration.
Concerns about unauthorized access and data theft emerged in the 1960s and 1970s, when computers were first used to store sensitive information. Now, more than 60 years later, the number of data breaches is at an all-time high, which makes identity theft much more real and close to us than ever before.
When personal information like social security numbers and medical records falls into the wrong hands, it can easily lead to criminal activity. The consequences can range from huge financial loss to damaged credit history and stolen identities. One of the best ways to mitigate these risks is by following a few tips for preventing identity theft.
From a young age, Sérgio showed a great interest in music and gaming, which served to boost his language skills in the years to come. His connection with creative content started in the early days of his first band, as he was in charge of all written and non-written materials. Later on, to further develop his skills, he studied Communication and Media. He then worked as a content producer, translator, designer, and marketer, until finally taking on the role of Content Creator for Best Reviews. You’ll often find Sérgio writing and producing music, drumming, gaming, going to live shows, and reading about the latest trends in technology.
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