9 Million Dental Patients Affected by LockBit Ransomware Attack
The largest breach in healthcare so far
Managed Care of North America (MCNA) Dental, a government-sponsored dental healthcare provider, alerted nearly 9 million clients about exposing their sensitive and private personal and medical data. This breach resulted from a LockBit ransomware attack that transpired earlier this year.
Between February 26 and March 7, the cyberattack successfully lifted sensitive data from MCNA's computer systems. The breach affected more than 8.9 million clients of MCNA, according to a data breach notification filed with the Maine Attorney General.
The exposed data includes names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, dental records, and health insurance information. MCNA is offering free credit monitoring and identity theft protection to affected clients.
The recent ransomware attack is the latest in a series of high-profile assaults that have specifically targeted healthcare organizations in recent years. A ransomware attack forced the Colonial Pipeline Company to halt its operations in 2021. As a result, this attack triggered gasoline shortages and price hikes across the United States.
Ransomware attacks are a growing threat to healthcare organizations. These attacks can disrupt patient care, cause financial losses, and expose sensitive patient data. Healthcare organizations must take steps to protect themselves from ransomware attacks, including implementing strong cybersecurity measures and having a plan to respond to a breach.