Data breaches are scary – and this is no exception! The Australian IVF company, Genea, has confirmed that they fell victim to a data breach earlier this month, during a cyber-attack where customer data was accessed.
The data that was accessed without authorisation included files containing names, addresses, insurance details, medical history, test results, and more. The full extent of the breach is not yet known, and they are working with their IT company and the Australian Cyber Security Centre to determine which parts of the system have been compromised. They will be in contact with those patients who have been affected.
Unfortunately, the health sector is often the subject of attacks due to the sensitive nature of their data, like contact information, personal history, and medical procedures. Genea was forced to take some of their systems offline to try and circumvent the damage of the attack, which has impacted their patient’s treatment cycles, and even prevented some fertility treatments from being completed this month.
If you believe you may have been affected, be extra careful about opening any suspicious emails or texts, or clicking links.
If you notice anything suspicious, report it immediately.
Remain vigilant and report anything suspicious to Scamwatch or report a cybercrime online through the Australian Signals Directorate;
In light of these events, cyber security should be at the forefront of your company’s priorities – check what your IT support is doing to keep your data secure. If you’re concerned, come and discuss with Quo Group how we could better equip your systems today.
