A significant cybersecurity breach has impacted Rhode Island's RIBridges system, which manages various health and human services programs. The breach was confirmed by the state's vendor, Deloitte, leading to the system being taken offline to address the security threat. Sensitive personal information may have been compromised, affecting numerous individuals who have interacted with the system.
Key Takeaways
RIBridges system taken offline due to a cybersecurity breach.
Sensitive personal information may have been accessed by cybercriminals.
Affected individuals will receive guidance on monitoring their accounts.
Overview Of the Breach
On December 13, Governor Dan McKee announced that the RIBridges system had suffered a cybersecurity breach. The state was alerted by Deloitte, the vendor managing the system, about a significant security threat that had compromised sensitive data. In response, the state proactively took the system offline to mitigate further risks and investigate the breach.
Programs Affected
The RIBridges system oversees several critical health and human services programs, including:
Medicaid
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)
Health coverage through HealthSource RI
Rhode Island Works (RIW)
Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS)
General Public Assistance (GPA) Program
Nature Of the Compromised Data
Deloitte has indicated that the breach likely resulted in unauthorized access to files containing personally identifiable information (PII). The compromised data may include:
Names
Addresses
Dates of birth
Social Security numbers
Certain banking information
Timeline Of Events
December 5: The state was first alerted to a potential cyberattack.
December 10: Deloitte confirmed the breach after receiving evidence from the hacker.
December 11: Deloitte confirmed the presence of PII in the compromised files.
December 13: The RIBridges system was taken offline to address the breach.
Response And Support for Affected Individuals
In light of the breach, the state is taking steps to assist those potentially affected. Households whose information may have been compromised will receive a letter detailing how to access free credit monitoring services. A dedicated call center will also be established to provide support and answer questions regarding the breach.
Recommended Precautions
Individuals are advised to take the following precautions to protect their personal information:
Monitor accounts for unauthorized activity.
Freeze credit or place a fraud alert with major credit bureaus.
Change passwords to strong, unique ones.
Contact banks for additional security measures.
The Rhode Island government is committed to addressing the cybersecurity breach and restoring the RIBridges system as quickly as possible. Updates will be provided to the public as the situation develops, and individuals are encouraged to remain vigilant regarding their personal information.
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Sources
RIBridges System faces cybersecurity breach | ABC6, WLNE-TV (ABC6).
Cybersecurity breach hits Rhode Island's RIBridges System - What's Up Newp, What's Up Newp.