Florida women’s clinic alerts 520,000 patients of data breach

Tampa-based Women’s Care Florida alerted all current and former patients — 528,188 people — that their medical or personal information may have been exposed due to an April 29 cybersecurity incident.

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The clinic discovered July 27 that some of its computer systems had been infected with a virus. After consulting with third-party information technology consultants, Women’s Care Florida learned that a computer virus had encrypted certain files.

Women’s Care Florida immediately shut down its networked computer systems. Since then, the clinic has decrypted or recovered nearly all of the affected files.

While there is no evidence that any patient information was viewed, retrieved or copied, Women’s Care Florida is recommending patients review their account statements, monitor free credit reports and report any suspicious financial activity.

Patient data that may have been affected included names, demographic information, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, driver’s license or identification care numbers, employment information, health insurance information and health information. No credit or debit card or financial account information was stored on the computer systems.

“We have strengthened our virus detection and other systems and safeguards to prevent unauthorized persons from gaining access to our systems. We have also taken other steps to try to prevent similar incidents in the future,” Women’s Health Florida said in a statement.

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8 hospitals, health systems hit by ransomware attacks
Cancer Treatment Centers of America alerts 3,200 patients of data breach
Why cyberattacks can be crippling to smaller hospitals

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