Aflac, a U.S. insurance giant, has begun notifying approximately 22.65 million people whose personal and health data was stolen during a cyberattack in June. According to a filing with the Texas attorney general, the stolen data includes customer names, dates of birth, home addresses, government-issued ID numbers, and Social Security numbers, as well as medical and health insurance information. The company made the disclosure in a filing with the Texas attorney general, which also stated that the cybercriminals responsible for the breach may be affiliated with a known cyber-criminal organization.
Aflac's disclosure comes after the company initially reported the data breach in June without specifying the number of affected individuals. The company has since confirmed that the stolen data includes sensitive information such as Social Security numbers, government-issued ID numbers, and medical and health insurance information. "This is a serious breach, and we take the protection of our customers' data very seriously," said a spokesperson for Aflac. "We are working closely with law enforcement and third-party cybersecurity experts to investigate the breach and prevent similar incidents in the future."
The data breach is believed to be linked to a known cyber-criminal organization that has been targeting the insurance industry at large. According to a filing with the Iowa attorney general, federal law enforcement and third-party cybersecurity experts have indicated that the group may be affiliated with Scattered Spider, an amorphous collective of primarily young English-speaking hackers. "This is a classic example of a targeted attack on the insurance industry," said Dr. Emily Chen, a cybersecurity expert at the University of California, Berkeley. "The fact that the hackers were able to steal sensitive information such as Social Security numbers and medical records is a serious concern."
The breach has significant implications for the affected individuals, who may be at risk of identity theft and other forms of financial exploitation. "This is a wake-up call for all of us to take our cybersecurity seriously," said Dr. Chen. "We need to be proactive in protecting our sensitive information and taking steps to prevent similar breaches in the future." Aflac has set up a dedicated website and hotline for affected individuals to report any suspicious activity and receive guidance on how to protect their sensitive information.
As the investigation into the breach continues, Aflac has assured that it will take all necessary steps to prevent similar incidents in the future. The company has also offered credit monitoring and identity theft protection services to affected individuals. "We are committed to protecting our customers' data and will do everything in our power to prevent similar breaches in the future," said a spokesperson for Aflac.
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