Rhode Island's governor, Dan McKee, disclosed a serious breach in the state's healthcare system, targeting RIBridges and potentially compromising the personal data of countless residents. The cyberattack, as reported by NBC Boston, struck the system that determines eligibility for a range of state assistance programs. Deloitte, the vendor for RIBridges, informed the state yesterday of a "major security threat."
After learning of the breach, state officials proactively shut down the system to address the security concerns and commence restoration efforts promptly, a step that Gov. McKee's office described as necessary. In addition, Deloitte confirmed the high likelihood of a cybercriminal accessing files containing sensitive personal information. Affected state programs include Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and several others, according to the same NBC Boston report.
In a parallel report by WCVB, it's detailed that state officials initially caught wind of a potential cyberattack on December 5, but the information was kept internal till further investigation. The breach was confirmed on Tuesday after Deloitte received a screenshot of file folders from the compromised system. Deloitte discovered "malicious code" within the system two days before the public announcement.
The governor's office announced plans to address the issue by setting up a dedicated call center by Sunday, although the phone number has not yet been released. Instructions on accessing free credit monitoring services will be sent to individuals whose information may have been compromised, as highlighted in the statement on WCVB. Rhode Island residents are also being advised to remain vigilant about their accounts for unauthorized activity, change any common or reused passwords, and consider contacting credit bureaus to freeze their credit or place a fraud alert.
While the online services of RIBridges remain unavailable, Rhode Island officials have provided paper applications as an interim solution for residents to continue applying for benefits. This ensures the continuity of support and assistance during the rectification of this disruption.
