Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Cyber Attackers See Potential Bounty In Targeting Medical Information
The Associated Press: Cyber Hackers See Potentially Rewarding Targets When They Attack Health Care Companies
Health care is a treasure trove for criminals looking to steal reams of personal information, as the hacking of a database maintained by the second-largest U.S. health insurer proves. The latest breach at health insurer Anthem Inc. follows a year in which more than 10 million people were affected by health care data breaches — including hacking or accidents that exposed personal information, such as lost laptops — according to a government database that tracks incidents affecting at least 500 people. (Murphy and Bailey, 2/6)
The Washington Post: Why Hackers Are Targeting The Medical Sector
A hack at Anthem, the second-largest health insurer in the country, exposed personal information about millions of employees and customers. But the attack is just the latest evidence that cybercriminals are increasingly targeting the medical sector where they can collect health information that can be sold for a premium on the black market. (Peterson, 2/5)
The Washington Post: China Suspected In Major Hacking Of Health Insurer
The massive computer breach against Anthem, the nation’s second-largest health insurer, exposes a growing cyberthreat facing health-care companies that experts say are often unprepared for large attacks. Hackers gained access to the private data of 80 million former and current members and employees of Anthem in one of the largest medical-related cyber-intrusions in history. (Harwell and Nakashima, 2/5)
