TVNZ reports: The Ministry for Children, Oranga Tamariki, has been forced to apologise to a foster family after one of its social workers tried to access their private medical records. The incident occurred after a foster child tried to attack them with a knife. However, the family says the attempted privacy breach has been even…
You should have told us: Company says email was hacked, sues its insurance broker for not advising it to get computer fraud insurance
Noddy A. Fernandez reports: A gift distribution company is suing a global insurance broker, citing alleged broker malpractice. Hampton-Haddon Marketing Corp. (HHMC) filed a complaint on Jan. 28 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against Willis of Tennessee Inc. and Willis Towers Watson PLC, alleging the defendants breached their duty…
Memorial Hospital at Gulfport phishing incident exposed 30,000 patients’ information
Anita Lee reports: Memorial Hospital is offering free credit monitoring and identify protection services to a “limited number” of patients whose Social Security numbers, health-insurance information and other personal details were part of an employee email account that a third party accessed. Janet Stuart, the hospital’s manager of marketing and communications, said the email account…
AltaMed, BlueShield of California notify patients and regulators after breach at Sharecare Health Data Services
From their press release, and I’ll meet you on the other side: AltaMed Health Services Corporation (“AltaMed”) has become aware of a data security incident experienced by its business associate, Sharecare Health Data Services (“SHDS”), that may have involved the personal and protected health information of some of its patients. AltaMed has sent notification letters…
Ransomware attacks would become felony with Maryland bill
Jared Beinart reports: Using ransomware to hold computers hostage would draw stiffer penalties under legislation — prompted in part by attacks on Maryland hospitals over the past few years — state lawmakers are considering. […] Maryland Senate bill 151, cross-filed with House bill 211, would define ransomware attacks that result in a loss greater than $1,000 as…
Update: Wendy’s settles financial firms’ lawsuit over data breach for $50 mln
Dena Aubin reports: Restaurant company Wendy’s has agreed to pay $50 million to resolve a 2016 lawsuit by financial institutions nationwide alleging that the company’s negligence allowed hackers to steal credit and debit card information in a 2015 data breach. Disclosed in a filing on Wednesday in Pittsburgh federal court, the settlement will be paid…