Hack into Health Department of New Hampshire Leaks Personal Information

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) stated that it recently encountered a data breach which resulted in the exposure of personal information, including dates-of-birth, addresses, medical services details, Medical Identification Numbers, and Social Security Numbers. Cnbc.com posted this online dated December 28, 2016.

A patient of the state hospital happened to access the information during October 2015 when he worked with a PC patients could use within the hospital's library.

Individuals affected due to the security hack were those associated with DHHS before November 2015. Also, no clues were found indicating exposure of banking information or credit card details, the department stated.

While investigation continued, the department came to know that a library staff observed the person accessing non-secret DHHS data on the PC situated in the library of New Hampshire Hospital. Although that particular library staff informed one supervisor, who initiated restrictive use of PCs in the library, New Hampshire Hospital management alternatively the DHHS wasn't reported about the incident.

Despite so, authorities advised that people impacted should go for a security freeze or credit fraud monitoring. They also urged citizens towards informing any ID-theft to New Hampshire Department of Justice's Consumer Protection Bureau else the state's law enforcement.

The New Hampshire hack has occurred when hackers find health-care data increasingly valuable. NBC News reported that health-care data breaches increased 11,000% in 2015 alone, impacting approximately 1 American within every batch of 3.

The department further provided on the ways affected people after the hack could safeguard themselves against instances of fraud/ID-theft through their A/C statements reviewing as well as credit monitoring. In case of doubt that someone was victim of fraud or identity theft, the person should report it at 603-271-3641 or 1-888-468-4454 the numbers of the Consumer Protection Bureau, aside the area law enforcement.

The DHHS is as well starting one toll-free telephone service for impacted individuals to dial for knowing more regarding the incident. They need to dial 1-888-901-4999. Besides, the department is further putting up notice along with added information about the hacking event on its official online site namely dhhs.nh.gov.

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