Anthem, the largest health insurance company in the US, has agreed to settle a class action lawsuit over a 2015 data breach for a record $115 million. The settlement still has to be approved by US District Court Judge Lucy Koh, who is scheduled to hear the case on August 17 in San Jose, California.
Full Answer
What was the breach of the national anthem?
The complaints alleged that Anthem failed to take adequate and reasonable measures to ensure its data systems were protected, failed to take available steps to prevent and stop the breach from ever happening, and failed to disclose to its customers the material facts that it did not have adequate computer systems and security practices to safeguard their personal data. Victims of the Anthem data breach – including children – face a lifetime risk of interference with their business and financial affairs.
What was the largest data breach ever?
In February 2015, Anthem reported that it had incurred a massive data breach that compromised the Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and Personal Health Information (PHI), including social security numbers and health data, of 78.8 million insureds, thus constituting one of the largest data breaches ever.
What to do if your data was breached in the national anthem?
If you believe you were affected by Anthem’s data breach and you were not included in the class action settlement, you do have the option of suing for damages and losses incurred due to identity theft. The settlement deadline has passed.
How to perform an anthem data breach check?
Another way to perform an Anthem data breach check is to use IDStrong to scour the internet to see if your information appears to be stolen or used in unfamiliar places and for credit monitoring .
When Was the Anthems Cyber Attack?
The Anthem data breach took place during the weeks before February 4, 2015. The breach was discovered quickly, and Anthem responded rapidly, encrypting and protecting the remaining data and formulating a response plan and further safeguards for the future.
What happened to the Anthem email?
A user at an Anthem subsidiary downloaded an attachment from a scam email, and that allowed the hackers to gain access to Anthem’s database of information. After a lengthy investigation by third-party security experts, the hacking incident was pointed towards a rival nation.
Can social security numbers be used to steal your identity?
Even basic information like name, home address, social security number, and date of birth can be used to steal your identity. Unfortunately, the data stolen in this breach ended up in the dark web and fell into the hands of various cybercriminals. You cannot be too careful when protecting against identity theft.
Is the national anthem a website?
Anthem does not have a website where you can check to see if your data was breached by this hacking event. However, the settlement website does offer some links and phone numbers. However, the deadline to file a claim was July 19, 2018, and has already passed.
How much money did Anthem have to settle the lawsuit?
A:Anthem established a $115 million fund to settle the lawsuit. This fund will be used to pay for a variety of services, costs and fees associated with the lawsuit and settlement, including: at least two years of credit services, which includes credit bureau protection, identity theft monitoring, identity theft insurance, and assistance with fraud, for class members who request such services; and compensation for class members who already have credit monitoring and do not request the credit services Anthem is offering to class members.
How to contact the data breach settlement administrator?
The best resource for you to contact for information about the settlement is the Settlement Administrator Kurtzman, Carson Consultants, (KCC), which set up a website at DataBreach-Settlement.comwith information about the Settlement. Visit DataBreach-Settlement.com. You may also call 855-636-6136, or write to: In re Anthem, Inc. Data Breach Litigation Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 404012, Louisville, KY 40233-9821. You will be able to obtain more information on the disbursement and use of the settlement fund, including how to register for the offered Credit Services and how to submit claims for Out-of-Pocket Costs or alternative compensation, from DataBreach-Settlement.com.
What happened to the anthem in 2015?
A:On Jan. 29, 2015, Anthem learned it had been the victim of a sophisticated external cyber-attack. The cyber-attackers tried to obtain certain private information (but not medical information such as claims, diagnostic codes or test results) about individuals in an Anthem database. Following Anthem’s Feb. 4, 2015, announcement about the cyber-attack, multiple class-action lawsuits related to how the cyber-attack occurred and how Anthem responded were filed against Anthem and other defendants in various jurisdictions.
What is the purpose of a settlement agreement?
A:The Settlement Agreement requires the Settlement Administrator to keep you apprised of your rights and any updates related to the settlement.
Did the anthem settle a lawsuit?
Anthem and the other defendants have announced a settlement to resolve the class-action lawsuit. As part of the settlement, a Settlement Administrator is distributing settlement postcards, emails or other notices to individuals whose personal information was or may have been impacted in the Anthem 2015 cyber-attack, or, to individuals who previously received a notice relating to the cyber-attack.
How much did the anthem lawsuit cost?
Anthem settled the consolidated class action lawsuit for in 2018 for $115 million. State Attorneys General investigated the breach to determine whether HIPAA and state laws had been violated.
How much was the HIPAA violation case settled?
Anthem settled the HIPAA violation case with OCR for $16 million in October 2018. The HIPAA violation penalty was, and still is, the largest ever financial penalty imposed on a covered entity or business associate for violations of the HIPAA Rules.
How long did it take for the HIPAA breach to be investigated?
State Attorneys General investigated the breach to determine whether HIPAA and state laws had been violated. The multi-state investigation has taken 5 years to come to a conclusion, but the settlements now draw a line under the breach.
What is the name of the insurance company that settled a multi-state investigation?
Share this article on: The Indianapolis, IN-based health insurer Anthem Inc. has settled a multi-state investigation by state attorneys general over its 78.8 million record data breach in 2014.
When did the cyberattack on the anthem happen?
The cyberattack on Anthem occurred in 2014. Hackers targeted the health insurer with phishing emails, the responses to which gave them the foothold in the network they needed. From there, the hackers spent months exploring Anthem’s network and exfiltrating data from its customer databases.
What data was stolen in the cyberattack?
Data stolen in the attack included the names, contact information, dates of birth, health insurance ID numbers, and Social Security numbers of current and former health plan members and employees. And was announced by Anthem in February 2015. A Chinese national and an unnamed accomplice were charged in connection with the cyberattack in May 2019.