Unauthorized access to New York Blood Center data affects approximately 200,000 individuals, potentially without their awareness
In a concerning turn of events, the New York Blood Center Enterprises (NYBCE) has suffered a cyberattack on January 20, 2025. The attack exposed sensitive data belonging to over 600,000 individuals, including names, Social Security numbers, and more.
The cyberattack occurred a week before the investigation was initiated on January 26, 2025. NYBCE has confirmed the incident in a separate filing with the Office of the Maine Attorney General. To aid in the investigation, NYBCE enlisted the help of third-party forensics experts.
Unfortunately, due to missing contact information, NYBCE is unable to notify all victims by mail. Instead, they are offering a year's worth of free credit and identity theft monitoring via Experian's IdentityWorksSM. People who believe they might have been affected by the cyberattack are advised to call the organization's confidential call center for more information.
The data stolen may include names, Social Security numbers, ID numbers, financial account information, and limited health information and test results. While the exact number of victims is unknown, it is clear that many individuals are at risk.
In response to this incident, NYBCE is working on "enhancing security protocols" to prevent future attacks. However, the specific steps taken or improvements made have not been detailed.
It is important to note that NYBCE does not collect or maintain contact information for individuals receiving clinical services, making it difficult to notify all potentially affected individuals. Moreover, the article does not provide a link to the separate filing with the Office of the Maine Attorney General or specify the exact date when the confidential call center was established.
In light of this cyberattack, it is crucial for individuals to remain vigilant and take steps to protect their personal information. If you believe you may have been affected, we encourage you to contact NYBCE's confidential call center for further guidance.
