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UnitedHealth cyberattack exposes 190 million in largest US healthcare data breach

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UnitedHealth cyberattack exposes 190 million in largest US healthcare data breach

UnitedHealth’s Change Healthcare unit suffered a data breach in February 2024, the news of which surfaced Feb. 21. 

Initially reported to have affected around 100 million individuals, the U.S. health insurance giant has now revealed that the actual number is significantly higher: 190 million. This makes it the largest breach of medical data in U.S. history, affecting nearly half the country’s population. 

A breach of this magnitude can have devastating consequences for the American people as malicious actors could exploit the data for a range of attacks if it finds its way to the dark web.

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A doctor looking at patient’s private information (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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The updated impact assessment

UnitedHealth confirmed on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, that the ransomware attack on its Change Healthcare unit affected approximately 190 million people in the United States. The company had previously estimated the number of affected individuals to be around 100 million in its preliminary analysis filed with the Office for Civil Rights, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that investigates data breaches.

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UnitedHealth stated that the majority of those impacted have already been notified, either directly or through substitute notice. The final tally of affected individuals will be confirmed and submitted to the Office for Civil Rights at a later date.

The company tells CyberGuy it is “not aware of any misuse of individuals’ information as a result of this incident and has not seen electronic medical record databases appear in the data during the analysis.” However, UnitedHealth did not disclose when it became aware of the additional 90 million victims, how the revised figure was determined or what changes led to the updated number.

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Illustration of a hacker at work (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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What you need to know about the data breach

The cyberattack on Change Healthcare in February caused widespread disruptions across the U.S. healthcare sector, as the company took its systems offline to contain the breach. This shutdown impacted critical services such as claims processing, payments and data sharing, which many healthcare providers rely on.

The stolen data varied by individual but included a broad range of personal and sensitive information, such as names, addresses, dates of birth, phone numbers, email addresses and government ID numbers, including Social Security, driver’s license and passport details.

Plus, hackers may have accessed health-related information, including diagnoses, medications, test results, imaging records, care and treatment plans, and health insurance details. Financial and banking information tied to claims and payment data was also reportedly compromised.

The breach was the result of a ransomware attack carried out by ALPHV/BlackCat, a Russian-speaking ransomware and extortion group. The attack, a form of malware intrusion, locks victims out of their data unless a ransom is paid. ALPHV/BlackCat later took credit for the attack.

During a House hearing in April, Change Healthcare admitted that the breach was made possible due to inadequate security measures, specifically the absence of two-factor authentication to protect its systems.

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Illustration of a hacker at work (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

FROM TIKTOK TO TROUBLE: HOW YOUR ONLINE DATA CAN BE WEAPONIZED AGAINST YOU

6 ways to protect yourself from Change Healthcare data breach

1. Remove your personal information from the internet: The breach has exposed sensitive personal data, making it essential to reduce your online footprint. While no service can guarantee complete data removal, a reputable data removal service can significantly limit your exposure. These services systematically monitor and erase your personal information from numerous websites and data brokers. Check out my top picks for data removal services here.

2. Be wary of mailbox communications: With addresses among the compromised data, scammers may exploit this breach to send fraudulent letters. Be aware of mail claiming missed deliveries, account suspensions or security alerts. Always verify the authenticity of such communications before responding or taking action.

3. Be cautious of phishing attempts and use strong antivirus software: Scammers may use your compromised email or phone number to target you with phishing attacks. Be wary of messages asking for personal information or containing suspicious links. To protect yourself, ensure strong antivirus software is installed on all your devices. Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.

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4. Monitor your accounts: Given the scope of this breach, regular monitoring of your bank accounts, credit card statements and other financial accounts is critical. Look for unauthorized transactions or suspicious activity and immediately report any issues to your bank or credit card provider.

5. Recognize and report a Social Security scam: If your Social Security number is exposed, you could become a target for related scams. Official communication regarding Social Security issues usually comes via mail, not phone calls or emails. Learn more about spotting and reporting scams by visiting the Social Security Administration’s scam information page.

6. Invest in identity theft protection: Data breaches happen every day, and most never make the headlines, but with an identity theft protection service, you’ll be notified if and when you are affected. Identity theft companies can monitor personal information like your Social Security number, phone number and email address and alert you if it is being sold on the dark web or being used to open an account. They can also assist you in freezing your bank and credit card accounts to prevent further unauthorized use by criminals. See my tips and best picks on how to protect yourself from identity theft.

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Kurt’s key takeaway

It’s surprising that a company of UnitedHealth’s scale failed to implement even basic cybersecurity measures when handling customer data. A breach affecting 190 million people – nearly half of the U.S. population – is staggering, leaving almost anyone at risk of becoming a target for hackers. While the company is still assessing the full extent of the breach, you can take precautions now by being cautious with any unknown links or unsolicited calls. Bad actors may use a variety of tactics to cause harm.

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Do you think these companies are doing enough to protect your data, and is the government doing enough to catch those behind cyberattacks? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.

Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you’d like us to cover.

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Reddit vs. Wall Street: the latest in the GameStop saga

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Reddit vs. Wall Street: the latest in the GameStop saga

It hasn’t been a good day for WallStreetBets, as GameStop’s stock has plummeted today. AMC, the community’s other bet, dropped as well. But unlike previous dips, the stocks don’t appear to be rallying. Prices stayed low for the entire trading day, something that hasn’t happened since WallStreetBets became a household name one week ago.

When the market closed today, the price of GameStop was $90 even, an 81 percent drop from GameStop’s peak at $483, and a 58 percent drop from its price of $218 on Friday evening. AMC is down too, closing today at $7.82, which is a 61 percent drop from its peak at $19.88.

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SpaceX makes history after launching rocket from Florida and landing booster in Bahamas

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SpaceX makes history after launching rocket from Florida and landing booster in Bahamas

SpaceX has pulled off a historic feat, after launching a rocket into space from the coast of Florida and landing the rocket booster in another country.

Tuesday’s mission marked the first time a Falcon 9 landed on a droneship off the coast of the Bahamas.

Nearly eight minutes after blasting off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, the Falcon 9’s first stage booster landed on the “Just Read the Instructions” droneship stationed off the coast of the Bahamas, in the Atlantic Ocean.

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SpaceX lands a Falcon 9 rocket on a drone ship off the coast of the Bahamas (Handout)

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“This is the first time that a rocket has taken off from one country, gone to space and landed in another country!” SpaceX CEO Elon Musk wrote on X.

The commercial space company said being able to land in the Bahamas allows Falcon 9 to maximize its performance by launching into a southeast trajectory from the Florida Space Coast.

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SpaceX lands a Falcon 9 rocket on a drone ship off the coast of the Bahamas

SpaceX lands a Falcon 9 rocket on a drone ship off the coast of the Bahamas (Handout)

For instance, launching toward the southeast allows SpaceX to put additional satellites into orbit, while also allowing the rockets to launch human spaceflight missions like Fram2, a polar-orbit human spaceflight mission to explore Earth.

SpaceX also said landing off the coast of the Bahamas provides greater winter weather for recovery options, which will allow the Falcon booster to continue to provide “rapid and reliable service” for the company’s customers.

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SPACEX LAUNCHES MISSION TO SPACE STATION THAT WILL BRING BACK STRANDED NASA ASTRONAUTS NEXT YEAR

SpaceX lands a Falcon 9 rocket on a drone ship off the coast of the Bahamas

SpaceX lands a Falcon 9 rocket on a drone ship off the coast of the Bahamas (Handout)

The Falcon 9 booster used in Tuesday’s mission was previously used to launch eight astronauts to the space station, critical cargo and supplies to the orbital lab, and send over 200 Starlink satellites into orbit, among other things.

In fact, on Tuesday, the booster helped deliver another 23 Starlink satellites into orbit before making its return to terrestrial Earth.

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Vision Pro apps: the good, the bad, and the ridiculous

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Vision Pro apps: the good, the bad, and the ridiculous

The Vision Pro is Apple’s newest computing platform, and that means we’re going to see a whole bunch of new apps. Apple pitches apps built for the Vision Pro as “spatial” experiences, and even after our initial review experience, we’ll have to see how those differ from or improve upon the virtual reality and mixed reality experiences we’ve seen on other platforms. Of course, the Vision Pro can run iPhone and iPad apps, too, and display the screen of your nearby Mac laptop or desktop.

Apple says that the Vision Pro’s 600-plus apps available at launch will bring 3D movies from Disney Plus, support from apps like Max and Amazon Prime video, and games like What the Golf? and Super Fruit Ninja. But the walled gardens of today’s tech world work in both directions, and there are some notable day-one omissions — Netflix’s app won’t work on Apple’s headset, and the same goes for YouTube.

The Vision Pro launches on February 2nd, and there are sure to be some good, bad, and flat-out weird apps in the weeks and months to come. (What will be the next I Am Rich?) Here’s all of our coverage of the apps for Apple’s new platform.

  • The Vision Pro NBA app turns some games into a miniature 3D diorama
  • The Vision Pro’s ultrawide Mac display is very close to being a killer app
  • Vision Pro’s viral Lapz app put on hold after F1 complaint
  • Watch this one-minute preview of Apple’s first scripted Vision Pro short
  • Christian Selig’s unofficial YouTube app for the Vision Pro just got taken down
  • Disney Plus now takes you to Iceland.
  • Foggy.
  • Ladies and gentlemen, The Weeknd (on Apple Vision Pro)
  • The Vision Pro needs a macOS-style dock.
  • The visionOS 2 beta enables web-based VR.
  • Marvel’s What If…? Vision Pro app is an awkward mix of video game and movie
  • Marvel’s What If…? Vision Pro mixed reality story will debut on May 30th.
  • Marvel is bringing a mixed reality edition of What If…? to the Vision Pro
  • The best worst way to play Metroid Prime.
  • What to do when Metroid Prime 4 still isn’t out.
  • Best Buy launches an augmented reality shopping app for the Vision Pro.
  • The Supercut app brings good Netflix to the Vision Pro
  • Do I feel less lonely in the Vision Pro?
  • Robots, virtually in disguise.
  • Now Apple Vision Pro Personas can float freely across different apps
  • Is the MLB’s Vision Pro app ready for the big leagues?
  • The Vision Pro is getting some new Apple Arcade games.
  • You can watch March Madness games for free in the Vision Pro.
  • You can now browse Vision Pro apps on the web.
  • You can watch these new IMAX documentaries on your Vision Pro headset.
  • You can watch TV on a CRT in the Vision Pro.
  • What it’s like to make an app for the Vision Pro.
  • The Apple Vision Pro is getting two VR gaming staples.
  • Ponder this (shiny) orb on the Vision Pro.
  • Apple recommends some Arcade games for Vision Pro owners.
  • TikTok’s native app arrives for the Vision Pro
  • Totally unofficial Apple Vision Pro YouTube app makes it to version 1.1.
  • Vision Pro app downloads are a mixed bag so far.
  • This is the entire Vision Pro motion sickness label.
  • YouTube says a Vision Pro app is ‘on the roadmap’
  • You can’t walk and Vision Pro at the same time.
  • Here’s Marques Brownlee’s Vision Pro review.
  • Halide sums up the stereoscopic photography of the Vision Pro.
  • How would you score Apple’s spatial computer?
  • Snarky weather forecasts — in mixed reality.
  • Here are all of the 3D Disney movies available on the Vision Pro.
  • This Vision Pro app breaks down communication barriers.
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  • Microsoft Teams, Word, Excel, and more are coming to Apple’s Vision Pro at launch
  • The Vision Pro is a computer for the age of walled gardens
  • Zoom meetings are about to get weirder thanks to the Vision Pro
  • At least one app is preparing to enable HDMI input to Apple’s Vision Pro.
  • Web apps: maybe not coming to a Vision Pro homescreen near you?
  • The Vision Pro’s first killer app is the web, whether Apple likes it or not
  • Netflix’s app won’t work on the Vision Pro
  • You won’t be able to use the YouTube app on the Vision Pro
  • Here’s Fruit Ninja on the Vision Pro.
  • Apple Vision Pro will launch with 3D movies from Disney Plus
  • So, what can you do with a Vision Pro?
  • It looks like 3D movies are coming to the Apple TV app.
  • iPhone and iPad apps will be available in the Vision Pro App Store by default
  • Apple announces visionOS, the operating system for its Vision Pro headset
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