Thursday☕️

Apr 25, 2024 • 4 min read

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UnitedHealth Pays Cyber Ransom:

UnitedHealth Group confirmed it paid a ransom to cybercriminals following a February attack on its subsidiary, Change Healthcare, which compromised patient data. The attack left many healthcare providers unable to fill prescriptions or process payments, significantly disrupting the sector. UnitedHealth, which serves over 152 million customers, revealed that the breach allowed unauthorized access to files containing protected health information and personally identifiable information of a large number of people.
Change Healthcare, known for managing payment and revenue cycle operations, handles over 15 billion transactions annually, and processes records for one in every three patients in the U.S. This extensive reach means the breach potentially impacted not just UnitedHealth customers but others too. In response, UnitedHealth has initiated measures including a dedicated website and a call center offering free identity theft protection and credit monitoring for two years.
UnitedHealth continues to collaborate with law enforcement and cybersecurity experts to manage the aftermath of the breach. The company's efforts to mitigate damage include ensuring no further data leaks, as only 22 screenshots of the compromised files have appeared on the dark web thus far, with no full medical records or charts being disclosed.

U.S. CENTCOM Activity:

On April 24th, at 11:51 a.m. Sanaa time, a coalition vessel intercepted an anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) over the Gulf of Aden, launched from areas in Yemen controlled by Iranian-backed Houthis. The missile was likely aimed at the MV Yorktown, a U.S.-flagged vessel, but no injuries or damages were reported. Later that day, between 12:07 p.m. and 1:26 p.m., U.S. Central Command destroyed four unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) over Yemen, also launched by Houthis. These actions were part of efforts to protect international shipping lanes and ensure the safety of navigation in the region.
In related events, U.S. Central Command, in collaboration with the Royal Jordanian Air Force, delivered humanitarian aid to Northern Gaza on April 23rd, at 11:50 a.m. Gaza time, using four C-130 aircraft to drop over 30,000 Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) and additional Jordanian food supplies. Further humanitarian assistance was provided on April 21st, with another airdrop in Northern Gaza delivering approximately 50,688 MREs. These missions are ongoing and are aimed at alleviating human suffering amid conflict, with continuous monitoring for any potential harm or damage.

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