What Happened?
Last week, the CEO of United Healthcare stated stated in Congress that a recent hack of the company may have impacted “I think, maybe a third [of Americans] or somewhere of that level.” The breach, which occurred in February 2024, compromised a vast amount of personal data, including names, addresses, phone numbers, and social security numbers. This information is now at risk of being sold on the dark web, leaving millions of people vulnerable to identity theft and fraud.
“I think, maybe a third [of Americans] or somewhere of that level.” - CEO of United Health Andrew Witty
What Was Exposed?
United Health states that it may take months to get to the bottom of what was exposed, but they have shared that the exposed data includes "files containing personal data and protected health information."
What Can You Do To Protect Yourself?
As with any hack - there is little that can be done to get your information back in safe hands. But you can take some action to protect yourself online. And, we've built Keenly to make it easy for you to stay safe.
- Monitor the dark web for your information: Keenly's technology will continuously scan the dark web for any signs of your personal information, alerting you if it has detected new exposures. This will allow you to monitor your compromised accounts and information, whether it be passwords, emails, etc.
- Remove your data from data broker lists: Keenly works to remove your personal information from databases owned and managed by data brokers, making it harder for cybercriminals to get their hands on your sensitive information.
- Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) when possible: We highly suggest using MFA whenever it is offered by a service you use. This means that whenever you log into a service, you're asked to further identify yourself usually by authenticated that you received a text message or by using an authenticator app. Take steps to have MFA setup on all sensitive accounts surrounding your finances and personal life.
Additional Tips
In addition to enrolling in Keenly's services, here are some extra precautions you can take to protect yourself:
- Monitor your credit reports: Keep a close eye on your credit reports and financial statements for any suspicious activity. This feature is coming soon to all Keenly plans.
- Use strong, unique passwords: Make sure your passwords are difficult to guess and not used across multiple accounts.
- Be cautious of phishing scams: Be wary of emails or calls asking for personal information, as they may be attempts to trick you into revealing sensitive information.
Conclusion
The United Healthcare data breach is a serious reminder of the importance of protecting our personal information in today's digital age. By taking proactive steps, such as enrolling in Keenly's services and following additional security tips, you can significantly reduce the risk of identity theft and fraud. Don't wait – take control of your personal information today!
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