What Happened?
This week, health conglomerate Kaiser Permanente started notifying consumers that they have been impcated by a recent data breach. A few wakes ago, the company stated that personal data from up to 13.4 million US consumers were impacted.
Information that may have been shared includes the unique internet address...Users names... and “information that could indicate a member or patient was signed into a Kaiser Permanente account or service, information showing how a member or patient interacted with and navigated through the website and mobile applications, and search terms used in the health encyclopedia,” according to the statement. - LA Times
What Was Exposed?
So far, it's quite hazy as to what precisely was exposed during this breach, but does seam that user's IP Addresses, their names, and general history and search terms could have been shared.
What Can You Do To Protect Yourself?
As with any hack - there is little that can be done to get your information back in safe hands. But you can take some action to protect yourself online. And, we've built Keenly to make it easy for you to stay safe.
- Monitor the dark web for your information: Keenly's technology will continuously scan the dark web for any signs of your personal information, alerting you if it has detected new exposures. This will allow you to monitor your compromised accounts and information, whether it be passwords, emails, etc.
- Remove your data from data broker lists: Keenly works to remove your personal information from databases owned and managed by data brokers, making it harder for cybercriminals to get their hands on your sensitive information.
- Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) when possible: We highly suggest using MFA whenever it is offered by a service you use. This means that whenever you log into a service, you're asked to further identify yourself usually by authenticated that you received a text message or by using an authenticator app. Take steps to have MFA setup on all sensitive accounts surrounding your finances and personal life.
Additional Tips
In addition to enrolling in Keenly's services, here are some extra precautions you can take to protect yourself:
- Monitor your credit reports: Keep a close eye on your credit reports and financial statements for any suspicious activity. This feature is coming soon to all Keenly plans.
- Use strong, unique passwords: Make sure your passwords are difficult to guess and not used across multiple accounts.
- Stay vigilant with unknown callers and texters: It is not unlikely that the information breached will be used to try and get you to egnage with scammers over text or the phone. These users may try to "phish" you, or trick you into handing over serious credentials and financial information to defraud you. Try not to respond to unkonwn callers and texters, and never share any personal information with an unverified person!
Conclusion
The Kaiser data breach is a serious reminder of the importance of protecting our personal information in today's digital age. By taking proactive steps, such as enrolling in Keenly's services and following additional security tips, you can significantly reduce the risk of identity theft and fraud. Don't wait – take control of your personal information today!