Los Angeles, California – Kaiser Permanente revealed that approximately 13.4 million current and former members and patients may have been affected by a privacy breach. The health care provider stated that it is notifying individuals who were potentially impacted by the incident. Kaiser Permanente also confirmed that there have been no reports of misuse of members’ or patients’ information thus far.
The data breach involved the collection of IP addresses, members’ names, and their online activities on Kaiser’s website and mobile apps. According to a cybersecurity expert interviewed by ABC7, this incident is more focused on privacy breach rather than data theft, as personal information was shared with other organizations without authorization.
Dr. Clifford Neuman, Director of USC Center for Computer Systems Security, explained that in a privacy breach like this, personal data is shared with third parties without consent. Kaiser Permanente clarified that sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, Social Security numbers, financial account details, or credit card numbers were not part of the data shared with external entities. The health organization conducted an internal investigation and promptly removed the embedded code from its online platforms.
In a statement to Eyewitness News, Kaiser Permanente expressed regret for the breach and reassured its members that preventive measures have been implemented to avoid similar incidents in the future. The organization emphasized its commitment to safeguarding the privacy and security of its members’ information.
As data breaches and privacy concerns become increasingly prevalent in the digital age, organizations like Kaiser Permanente are under heightened scrutiny to ensure the protection of sensitive data. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of robust security measures and proactive monitoring to prevent unauthorized access to personal information. Members and patients are advised to remain vigilant and promptly report any suspicious activity related to their personal data.