Data Breach at Australian Health Network Raises Dark Web Fears
Cyberattack on Partnered Health exposed Medicare numbers and treatment records across 21 clinics
A cyberattack on one of Australia's largest healthcare providers has left patients' medical records vulnerable to sale on the dark web, according to an expert cited by The Guardian.
Partnered Health disclosed that 21 clinics across Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and other cities were affected after a "malicious actor" accessed its systems on June 23. The compromised data includes Medicare numbers, treatment details and pathology results, the company said.
The breach is among the largest to hit Australia's healthcare sector in recent years and has renewed concern about how medical providers safeguard sensitive patient information. An expert consulted by the Guardian warned that stolen medical records of this kind are frequently traded on hidden online markets, where they can be used for identity theft or insurance fraud.
Partnered Health has not detailed how many patients in total were affected or specified what security measures failed to prevent the intrusion. The company is one of several health networks that have suffered major data breaches in recent years, incidents that have intensified scrutiny of cybersecurity standards across the industry.
Affected patients are expected to be notified individually, though the scope of the exposure — and whether the stolen data has already surfaced for sale — remains under investigation.
— Compiled from reporting by The Guardian.