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Tewksbury Hospital admits data breach by former employee

A former employee stands accused of inappropriately accessing over a thousand patient records without authorisation.

It’s believed more than 1,100 patients may have had their medical records viewed without reason for a 14-year period.

Authorities were alerted to the data breach when a former patient raised concerns that their medical records may have been accessed inappropriately online. An internal review found that a hospital employee had indeed accessed the records “without a good reason” to do so. From there, it was found that the same employee had accessed a huge number of former and current patient medical records without authorisation or grounds to do so.
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U.S hotel malware may have compromised guests’ credit card data

A four-star hotel in the U.S. has discovered a data breach that may have compromised an undisclosed number of guests’ credit card information.

The Galt House Hotel, located in the state of Kentucky, discovered malicious software stealing information from a “payment card processing system” where credit card information is stored for payment purposes.

An internal investigation discovered the malware, and it’s believed that guests who used their credit cards to pay for visits between 21^st December 2016 and 11^th April 2017 may be affected.
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Data breaches are happening more and more frequently: and we can’t keep up…

Reviewing statistics for data breaches over the past few years, there is a worrying increase in the number of breaches and how quickly they’re happening.

In some areas there has been an almost 30% increase in data breaches over the last six months alone, and experts predict that the number of breaches may double by the end of the year.

In a study conducted by Identity Theft Resource Center and CyberScout (ITRC), comparing trends this half year with the same time period last year, they were understandably shocked by their findings…
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108,000 BUPA customers have their personal information lost

International healthcare provider, BUPA, has admitted a breach of data protection rules over mishandling more than a hundred thousand customers’ personal information.

BUPA is understood to have lost the information by copying and deleting data, which is against company policy. The information lost included: Patient first and last names; patient dates of birth; patient nationalities; and patient contact information.

BUPA customers have been notified of the data breach. Whilst no medical nor financial information is thought to have been lost in this security incident, some customers may understandably be angry.
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Newcastle City Council leaks sensitive information on thousands of adopted children

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is investigating Newcastle City Council after a data breach exposed the personal information of adopted children.

The north-eastern council has recently come under fire for the breach that saw the personal information of 2,743 adopted children – information which included sensitive data about the children, and included data on parents, social workers and former adoptees – sent out in an email by mistake.
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How data breaches can destroy trust!

In the U.K., companies, organisations and individuals are bound by Data Protection legislation to handle and store personal data safely and securely.

Today, almost all personal data is digitalised in one way or another. From transferring money on our online banking accounts to posting a picture on our social media platforms, we’re constantly using the internet to store and share information. In return, we expect our banks and social media platforms to keep that information safe.

Unfortunately, where there is data, breaches will always be a threat.
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Cyber threats: are they being taken seriously?

Cybercrime is no longer a high-tech fantasy phenomenon exclusive to science-fiction movies; it’s real and it needs to be dealt with!

Cyber-attacks can cause an incredible amount of damage that extends far and wide with no tangible end. Unlike a broken window that can be fixed, or stolen money that can be recovered in one way or another, stolen data from a malicious hacking can cause an insurmountable list of problems. Since it’s not tangible, the information can be copied and spread around the world at a click of a button.
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How much does a data breach cost?

Data breaches are not a new phenomenon; they’ve been around for a long time. That being said, they’re certainly on the rise at the moment, and the costs for companies dealing with the fallout of a data breach continue to grow.

Technology and the use of the internet has vastly grown in recent times, yet companies continually lack decent security while making more and more use of digital technology. It’s a backwards concept when you think about it. You’d want to install a quality house alarm if you started collecting rare and expensive memorabilia, as an example.

So, how much does a data breach cost?
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J.P. Morgan Chase Bank face class action for recording calls without consumer consent

Reuters report that the J.P. Morgan (one of the largest financial corporations in the world) are facing a class action (otherwise known as a group action here) in the U.S. which is being brought by multiple aggrieved consumers and to be heard in the Californian federal court.

The case is in relation to J.P. Morgan allegedly recording calls without consent, which is reportedly a violation of state laws. The lawsuit, which reportedly only covers outbound calls, was filed on the 3^rd of July in the ‘golden state’ with allegations that J.P. Morgan’s practice of recording calls without permission has been a problem for a long time.
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56% of healthcare organisations plan on investing in data breach protection

A new survey reveals that many healthcare providers plan to invest in data breach protection. A recent study named IT Risks in Healthcare Infographics 2017 gathered information based on feedback provided by IT specialists working in healthcare organisations worldwide.

Off the back of breaches that have plagued the healthcare industry for years, many organisations may now be finally planning to invest more in data protection and cybersecurity.

It’s about time…
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