Insurer Anthem Reveals Hack of 80 Million Customer, Employee Accounts

weerapatkiatdumrong/iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — Anthem Inc., the second-largest U.S. health insurer, said Wednesday that its computers were hacked and data on some 80 million current and former customers and employees may have been exposed.

“Anthem was the target of a very sophisticated external cyber attack,” the company said in a letter to its members. “These attackers gained unauthorized access to Anthem’s IT system and have obtained personal information from our current and former members such as their names, birthdays, medical IDs/social security numbers, street addresses, email addresses and employment information, including income data.”

It said that there’s no evidence that credit card or medical information – such as claims, test results or diagnostic codes – were targeted or compromised. There was no word on how the hackers got in or who may be responsible.

 

1/ Anthem was the victim of a cyber attack. No evidence medical or credit card information was compromised. More at http://t.co/ilKRmawhM6

— Anthem, Inc. (@AnthemInc) February 5, 2015

“Once the attack was discovered, Anthem immediately made every effort to close the security vulnerability, contacted the FBI and began fully cooperating with their investigation,” the company said. “Anthem has also retained Mandiant, one of the world’s leading cybersecurity firms, to evaluate our systems and identify solutions based on the evolving landscape.”

Joseph R. Swedish, CEO of Anthem, said associates’ personal information, including his own, was accessed during this security breach.

“We join you in your concern and frustration, and I assure you that we are working around the clock to do everything we can to further secure your data,” he wrote.

Anthem said it will individually notify current and former members whose information has been accessed, as well as provide credit monitoring and identity protection services free of charge to those affected.

Anthem offers Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in California, New York and 12 other states.

 

Follow @ABCNewsRadio
Copyright © 2015, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.