The Anthem data breach exposed 80 million healthcare customers' names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and medical IDs. Robert Siciliano recommends a credit freeze, 90-day fraud alert, and identity theft protection to protect yourself.
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It is an alarming data breach. Names, addresses, and this time Social Security numbers all stolen from one of the largest health insurers in the country.
Anthem says hackers got into its computer network and accessed the personal information of 80 million customers and employees, including the CEO. As CBS 13's Marissa Bodnar reports, more than 300,000 Mainers could be affected.
In a letter to members, Anthem CEO says the company was the target of a very sophisticated cyber attack in which hackers stole personal information from current and former accounts, including names, birthdays, medical IDs, street addresses, email addresses, employment information, income data, and Social Security numbers.
And as we know, the social is the key to the kingdom. It allows bad guys to open up new lines of credit, under the victim's names.
Boston-based identity theft expert Robert Siciliano says customers should take action right away. A credit freeze can cost up to $15, but will require extra steps to obtain credit. Another free and fast option is a 90-day fraud alert. You'll be contacted before any credit will be extended.
I find these to be necessary to protect your identity.
Siciliano also recommends identity theft protection, which can run between $100 and $200 a year. It's a solution if your kids' identities are at risk, since they can't freeze credit under age 18. At this point, there's no evidence to suggest credit card or medical information has been compromised. Anthem says the FBI is investigating the hack and that it's hired an internet security company to evaluate and improve its systems.
A lot of these, uh, breaches happen much of the same way. Often there is some type of a vulnerability in the network itself that the bad guys exploit, or somebody on the inside receives a phishing email.
According to the Identity Theft Resource Center, data breaches reached an all-time high in 2014. 42.5% were in the medical healthcare industry.
With all of the breaches that have occurred over the past decade, uh, most people's identities essentially have been compromised. So consider your identity—
breached.
Those affected should be notified by Anthem within 2 weeks, and the company says it will provide free credit monitoring and identity protection services.
But experts say don't wait.
The clock is already ticking. You don't know when your information might be used. And because this is Social Security numbers, it's something people will have to be vigilant about for the rest of their lives.
