The recent Florida Health Department hack has resulted in the exposure of thousands of confidential files, including HIV diagnoses and other sensitive patient information. This cyberattack, among the most severe in the state’s history, was carried out by the international hacker group RansomHub.
Over 20,000 files were posted on the dark web, revealing private details such as lab results, medical release forms, workers' compensation records, and COVID-19 diagnoses. These records contain patients’ full names, birth dates, addresses, Social Security numbers, and insurance details, primarily from 2023 and 2024.
The Florida Health Department Hack In Detail
Officials from the Florida Department of Health are in the process of notifying patients whose information was compromised in the Florida Health Department hack. RansomHub demanded a ransom to prevent the data release, but the state’s policy against paying ransoms led to the files being publicly released on the dark web.
The dark web, a hidden part of the internet, is often used to conceal identities and locations. The breach has disclosed detailed patient information from the Department of Health’s Bureau of Public Health Laboratories, which operate labs in Jacksonville, Tampa, and Miami. These labs conduct tests for various health departments and hospitals, including those for HIV, hepatitis, and COVID-19.
The exposed records include intimate patient details, such as one individual admitted to a South Florida hospital with multiple symptoms. The data also shows test results for diseases like hepatitis, dengue fever, salmonella, rabies, and COVID-19.
State's Response To The Florida Health Department Hack
In response to the Florida Health Department hack, officials are diligently working to identify and notify victims as soon as possible, in accordance with state law. This involves painstakingly reviewing numerous unlabeled files to extract names and personal information. Department of Health spokesperson Jae Williams assured that affected individuals would be notified once a thorough assessment is complete.
Williams also urged healthcare providers to remain alert and follow the department’s best practices for data security. This breach is part of a wider pattern of cyberattacks on healthcare providers across the country. Recently, RansomHub also claimed to have stolen data from RiteAid, and earlier this year, hackers targeted UnitedHealth Group’s medical billing system.
The Florida Health Department hack is one of many cyberattacks the state has faced in recent years. Over the past three years, data breaches at state agencies have exposed information on more than 10 million Floridians. In many cases, the state has provided credit monitoring services to the victims.
This incident highlights the urgent need for stronger cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive health information from malicious attacks.
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