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3.3 Million Exposed in BlueCross BlueShield Breach

Posted: August 8, 2016 to Cybersecurity.

Tags: Data Breach, Digital Forensics, HIPAA

One of the providers of insurance ID cards for carriers such as BlueCross BlueShield, Newkirk Products, has been the victim of a data breach. While no health plan systems were affected, the personal data of 3.3 million insurance plan members may have been exposed. Newkirk discovered that one of their servers had been accessed without proper authorization at the beginning of July. Once aware of the intrusion, Newkirk shut down the server down. A forensic investigator determined the initial breach happened on May 21. Since then, Federal law enforcement has been called in to investigate. While the sever didn’t contain medical data, banking information, or social security numbers, depending on a customer’s insurance plan, their dependent’s names, dates of birth, addresses, Medical ID numbers among other pieces of personal data may have been compromised. Newkirk has mailed letters to those affected to notify them of the breach and to offer two years of free identity protection.

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About the Author

Craig Petronella, CEO and Founder of Petronella Technology Group
CEO, Founder & AI Architect, Petronella Technology Group

Craig Petronella founded Petronella Technology Group in 2002 and has spent more than 30 years working at the intersection of cybersecurity, AI, compliance, and digital forensics. He holds the CMMC Registered Practitioner credential (RP-1372) issued by the Cyber AB, is an NC Licensed Digital Forensics Examiner (License #604180-DFE), and completed MIT Professional Education programs in AI, Blockchain, and Cybersecurity. Craig also holds CompTIA Security+, CCNA, and Hyperledger certifications.

He is an Amazon #1 Best-Selling Author of 15+ books on cybersecurity and compliance, host of the Encrypted Ambition podcast (95+ episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon), and a cybersecurity keynote speaker with 200+ engagements at conferences, law firms, and corporate boardrooms. Craig serves as Contributing Editor for Cybersecurity at NC Triangle Attorney at Law Magazine and is a guest lecturer at NCCU School of Law. He has served as a digital forensics expert witness in federal and state court cases involving cybercrime, cryptocurrency fraud, SIM-swap attacks, and data breaches.

Under his leadership, Petronella Technology Group has served 2,500+ clients, maintained a zero-breach record among compliant clients, earned a BBB A+ rating every year since 2003, and been featured as a cybersecurity authority on CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, and WRAL. The company leverages SOC 2 Type II certified platforms and specializes in AI implementation, managed cybersecurity, CMMC/HIPAA/SOC 2 compliance, and digital forensics for businesses across the United States.

CMMC-RP NC Licensed DFE MIT Certified CompTIA Security+ Expert Witness 15+ Books
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