Hackers may have stolen up to 80 million names, addresses, birthdays, Social Security numbers, and medical insurance IDs from giant health insurer Anthem, which could be used to steal identities, get fraudulent prescriptions, and wreak general havoc among the populace.
The hackers didn't get any specific health data, but the information they did nab could be used to sign up for bogus credit cards and discount drugs from pharmacies. The Wall Street Journal says the hack hit an "outside Web storage service," but before you blame anyone else, let's note that Anthem had a security breach in 2010, too. This time around, Anthem has set up a website, anthemfacts.com where the company will inadequately attempt to soothe you.
It looks like this is just going to happen as long as our online world consists of these complex webs of third-party hosting services, edge providers, and subcontracted subcontractors subcontracting contracted contracts. Recent data breaches included JP Morgan Chase, with 76 million people; Home Depot, with 56 million people, and Target, with 40 million people.
On a personal note, I've had to change my American Express card number twice in the past six months. Each time, AmEx has called me up and stopped the charges, and I've never had to pay for anything I didn't actually buy. Go AmEx. But the level of identity theft going on in this country has become totally intolerable. There are just too many insecure endpoints, from outside Web hosting to those little credit card swipy machines, for this to end any time soon.
What can you do? Sign up for an identity protection service like LifeLock or AllClear ID. Don't use a debit card if you can avoid it, and check your statements every month. We're all screwed.
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