Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2025: Building a Cyber Strong America

Posted by Steve Alder

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month – a global initiative that aims to educate the public and businesses about the importance of cybersecurity and protecting against cyber threats to systems and data.  The initiative is led by the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and this year’s theme is “Building a Cyber Strong America. The main focus this year is improving cybersecurity at the government entities and small and medium-sized businesses that operate and maintain the nation’s critical infrastructure, as well as the myriad of vendors and suppliers that support or are connected to critical infrastructure.

Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2025 - CISA

CISA is issuing a call to action to all critical infrastructure entities and vendors that support those entities to take steps to improve cybersecurity, starting with four essential steps to improve baseline security:

  • Avoid phishing
  • Use strong passwords
  • Require multifactor authentication
  • Update business software

Phishing is the initial access vector in many cyberattacks, providing threat actors with the credentials they need to access internal systems and data and conduct a comprehensive attack on the organization.  According to the cybersecurity firm SentinelOne, phishing attacks have increased by 1,265%, with that increase driven by the growth of GenAI. These attacks target employees and trick them into disclosing credentials, opening malicious email attachments, or clicking links that direct them to malicious sites where malware is downloaded. While technical defenses such as spam filters can reduce the number of threats that reach employees, it is vital to train the workforce on how to recognize and report suspicious emails.

A system is only as secure as the password used to protect it, so it is essential that passwords are used that are difficult to guess and are resistant to automated brute force attempts. According to Hive Systems, even a password consisting of 10 random numbers could be cracked in less than a day, compared to 803,000 years for a 10-character password consisting of numbers, upper and lower case letters, and special characters. Strong passwords should be mandatory for all users.

Even strong passwords are not sufficient by themselves, as while they may be difficult to brute force, they can be obtained by threat actors through phishing, for example. Multifactor authentication adds an additional layer of protection, ensuring that a password alone is not sufficient to access accounts, systems, and devices. Implementing multifactor authentication will significantly improve security, and where possible, phishing-resistant multifactor authentication should be implemented.

Threat actors target vulnerabilities in software and operating systems and exploit them to gain access to the networks of critical infrastructure entities and their vendors.  All business software and operating systems should be kept up to date, with patches and security updates applied promptly to fix vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. After completing these four essential steps to improve baseline security, the next step is to level up defenses through additional actions, such as implementing logging on all systems. Logs should be monitored for anomalous activity, including hacking incidents and insider threats.

Ransomware is one of the biggest threats, especially in healthcare. These attacks lock victims out of systems and prevent access to critical data, causing massive disruption to business operations. It is therefore essential to ensure that all critical information is backed up securely, as this will allow a fast recovery in the event of an attack. In addition to making multiple backups and securing one copy off-site, backups should be checked to ensure that file recovery is possible. A backup plan should also be developed to reach the recovery point in the shortest possible time frame.

Data encryption is another key protection to safeguard data at rest and in transit. If a threat actor gains access to files, the data cannot be viewed. Threat information sharing is also a key part of building a strong cyber America. By informing CISA about cyberattacks and sharing pertinent information, CISA can take steps to warn others and help them avoid similar threats.

Healthcare organizations should also consider implementing the cybersecurity performance goals (CPGs) developed by the Department of Health and Human Services in collaboration with CISA. The CPGs set a floor of safeguards that will help prevent successful cyberattacks, and the enhanced CPGs help healthcare organizations mature their cybersecurity capabilities. The 2025 HIPAA Journal Annual Survey indicated a lack of awareness of these important CPGs.

“Critical infrastructure – whether in the hands of state and local entities, private businesses, or supply chain partners – is the backbone of our daily lives,” said Acting CISA Director Madhu Gottumukkala. “Whenever it’s disrupted, the effects ripple through communities across America. That’s why this year CISA is prioritizing the security and resilience of small and medium businesses, and state, local, tribal, and territorial government (SLTT) that facilitate the systems and services [that] sustain us every day. This includes things like clean water, secure transportation, quality healthcare, secure financial transactions, rapid communications, and more. Together, we must make resilience routine so America stays safe, strong, and secure.”

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Connecticut Medical Rehabilitation Center Announces Hacking Incident

Posted by Steve Alder

Gaylord Specialty Healthcare is notifying patients affected by a December hacking incident, and Gainwell Technologies has reported a breach involving the data of Medicaid recipients in Georgia.

Gaylord Specialty Healthcare, Connecticut

Gaylord Farm Association Inc., doing business as Gaylord Specialty Healthcare, a nonprofit medical rehabilitation center in Wallingford, Connecticut, has recently started notifying patients about a December 2024 security incident that potentially involved unauthorized access to patient information.

Suspicious activity was identified within its computer network on December 19, 2024, and the forensic investigation confirmed unauthorized access to its network from December 16 to December 19. Files were reviewed to determine the types of information involved and the individuals affected. On August 25, 2025, Gaylord learned that the impacted data included names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, taxpayer ID numbers, driver’s license or state ID numbers, passport numbers, account numbers, routing numbers, payment card numbers, payment card CVVs, medical record numbers, mental or physical condition, treatment information, diagnoses and diagnosis codes, treatment locations, procedure types, provider names, treatment costs, medical date of services, admission/discharge dates, prescriptions, billing/claims information, health insurance information and/or patient account numbers.

Gaylord said it issued a provisional notice to the HHS’ Office for Civil Rights about the data breach and uploaded a breach notice to its website on February 28, 2025; however, the incident is not yet shown on the HHS’ data breach portal, which suggests the initial estimate indicated that fewer than 500 individuals were affected. Gaylord said the delay in issuing individual notifications was due to the complex and time-consuming review of the affected files, which required a manual review of thousands of documents. Security policies, procedures, and practices have been reviewed and enhanced to prevent similar breaches in the future. The total number of affected individuals is not currently known, although the breach was reported to the Maine Attorney General as affecting 75 Maine residents.

Gainwell Technologies, Virginia

Gainwell Technologies, a provider of technology solutions and software to healthcare organizations and government agencies, has recently announced a data breach affecting 912 Medicaid recipients in Georgia. Gainwell Technologies is the fiscal agent for Medicaid in the state, and contracts with Georgia’s Department of Community Health. According to a statement issued by the contractor, on July 23, 2025, an unauthorized caller requested access to payments to providers and gained access to a reimbursement account that contained patient information.

The account contained billing statements that included Medicaid recipients’ names, Medicaid ID numbers, coverage information, and payment information for the periods when services were received. Gainwell Technologies said it is unaware of any misuse of the affected data but has offered complimentary credit monitoring services to the affected individuals for a period of one year as a precaution.

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Data Exfiltrated in Hacking Incident at Healthcare Interactive Inc.

Posted by Steve Alder

Healthcare Interactive Inc. has confirmed that data was exfiltrated in a July 2025 hacking incident. Data breaches have also been reported by the Health Department of the City of St. Joseph in Missouri and Viva Health in Alabama.

Healthcare Interactive (HCIactive)

Healthcare Interactive Inc., a provider of AI-powered software solutions for insurance enrollment and benefits administration, has recently announced a July 2025 hacking incident that involved the exfiltration of files from its network. Suspicious activity was identified within its computer network on or around July 22, 2025. An investigation was launched to identify the cause of the activity, which confirmed unauthorized access to its network and data exfiltration from its network between July 8, 2025, and July 12, 2025.

The review of the exposed files confirmed that they contained protected health information such as names, addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, health insurance enrollment information, medical record numbers, diagnoses, lab results, prescriptions, and other care and treatment information, medical images, doctors’ names, and health insurance claims information.

While sensitive data was stolen, Healthcare Interactive said it is unaware of any misuse of that information; however, as a precaution, the affected individuals have been offered complimentary credit monitoring and identity theft protection services. Security policies and procedures are being reviewed, and additional safeguards are being implemented to better secure its systems and data. The data breach is not yet shown on the HHS’ Office for Civil Rights breach portal, so it is unclear how many individuals have been affected.

City of St. Joseph Health Department, Missouri

The Health Department of the City of St. Joseph in Missouri experienced a hacking incident that caused network disruption on June 9, 2025. Third-party cybersecurity experts were engaged to investigate and determine the nature and scope of the activity. The investigation confirmed that there may have been unauthorized access to files containing patient data, and files may have been exfiltrated from the network.

Data mining experts were engaged to review the files, and on September 4, 2025, it was confirmed that 11,538 patients had been affected and had some of their protected health information exposed. The types of information involved vary from individual to individual and may include first and last names, dates of birth, driver’s license numbers/state identification numbers, passport numbers, Social Security numbers, and medical diagnosis and treatment information. The health department engaged cybersecurity experts to review its security practices and protocols, and enhancements have been made based on their recommendations.

Viva Health, Alabama

Viva Health, an Alabama-based health insurance company that works with the Alabama Medicaid agency, has identified an exposed file on its website that contained the protected health information of 4,945 of its members. The exposed file was identified on August 27, 2025, and the investigation confirmed that it was accessible via the website from June 14, 2025, to August 27, 2025. The file contained limited member information – Medicare numbers, member IDs, group numbers, county of residence, and authorization numbers from August and September 2024. The file did not include members’ names, nor highly sensitive information such as Social Security numbers or financial information. As a precaution against data misuse, members have been advised to monitor their Explanation of Benefits statements and have been offered one year of complimentary credit monitoring services.

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Veradigm Announces Data Breach Affecting Several Customers

Posted by Steve Alder

On September 22, 2025, Veradigm, a Chicago, Illinois-based provider of practice management and electronic health record solutions to healthcare providers (formerly Allscripts), started issuing notification letters about a July 2025 security incident that involved unauthorized access to customer data.

On July 1, 2025, Veradigm learned that an unauthorized third party had accessed one of its storage locations. Steps were immediately taken to block the unauthorized access, law enforcement was notified, and third-party digital forensics and cybersecurity experts were engaged to investigate the activity and mitigate any impact of the unauthorized access. The investigation determined that a data security incident at one of its customers resulted in credential theft that allowed access to a Veradigm storage account. The attacker used the credentials to access the storage account on or around December 2024. Veradigm learned about the unauthorized access through a third party that was investigating its customer’s security incident. The data breach was limited to the storage account, and no other systems or environments were affected. While data was exposed, Veradigm is unaware of any misuse of the exposed data.

The file review confirmed that the following types of information had been exposed: name, contact information, date of birth, health records information (diagnoses, medications, test results, and treatments), health insurance information, payment details, and limited identifiers, such as Social Security numbers and driver’s license numbers. The types of information involved vary from individual to individual. Veradigm has implemented additional technical safeguards to prevent similar incidents in the future and has offered the affected individuals complimentary credit monitoring and identity theft protection services.

The incident is not yet shown on the HHS’ Office for Civil Rights breach portal, so it is currently unclear how many individuals have been affected. The data breach affected several of its customers and is likely to be a significant data breach. At least 70,000 individuals have been confirmed as affected in two states alone, based on the breach reports submitted to the Texas and South Carolina state attorneys general. The California Attorney General has also been informed that state residents have been affected.

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