Data security continues to be a major concern in today’s Digital Age. A recent example of this is the Ambry Genetics Data Breach, which compromised the security of millions of customers’ sensitive health data. On 7 August 2020, Ambry Genetics, a major clinical genetics lab in the United States, announced a data breach involving the personal and medical data of their customers. This breach marks an unfortunate event where a personal and health-related database was breached, leaving customers vulnerable to cybercrime. Although Ambry Genetics has provided steps to mitigate the breach, customers of the lab may have to remain vigilant against an ongoing risk to their data security. The Ambry Genetics Data Breach underscores the importance of data security for organizations and individuals alike.
1. Ambry Genetics Data Breach: What You Should Know
In March 2019, Ambry Genetics, a genetic testing company, suffered a data breach involving personal information of an undisclosed number of patients. To protect yourself and your family from identity theft, it’s important to understand how the breach occurred and what you can do to protect your data.
Ambry Genetics was affected by a malicious attack on its internal systems, allowing hackers to access a number of databases with patient information. It appears the attackers obtained names, dates of birth and other genetic information from the affected databases. It’s important to remember that this data breach could lead to further issues if it falls into the wrong hands; here’s what you should do immediately:
- Immediately contact your healthcare providers to inform them of the data breach and ask for more information about it.
- Change passwords for accounts that could be affected.
- Sign up for credit monitoring and identity theft protection services.
- Regularly check the credit reports of you and your family.
It’s important to take steps to protect your data and stay informed in the event of a data breach. Keeping an eye out for signs of identity theft and staying up-to-date with the latest news is the best path forward. Don’t let yourself become a victim of data theft when there are simple steps you can take to protect your family. Reach out to your healthcare provider or credit monitoring services for more information.
2. Risk of a Data Breach: Tips to Protect Your Data
1. Create a Strong Password
Creating a strong and unique password is the most important step you can take to keep your data safe from any unauthorized access. Keep passwords unpredictable, using a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. It’s also important to frequently change your passwords and never share them with anyone.
2. Utilize Multi-Factor Authentication
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is another powerful way to bolster your protection. MFA requires a set of credentials to gain access to an account and boosts the security by using a secondary authentication mechanism. This can include things like:
– Voice identification
– A one-time SMS code
– A finger print scan
Each of these items is unique to the user and creates an additional layer of protection.
3. Ambry Genetics Takes Immediate Action to Address Breach
Ambry Genetics recently discovered a security breach in their data systems, compromising the personal information of a number of clients. In response, Ambry took immediate action to address the incident. Here are the steps the company took to protect their customers:
- Conducted a detailed root cause analysis to identify the source of the breach
- Adopted and implemented enhanced security protocols to strengthen protection against further threats
- Engaged a third-party forensics company to investigate, analyze, and study the effects of the breach
- Informed individuals impacted by the security breach of their rights to consider legal action
- Suspended data security operations of affected systems to ensure the safety of their clients
Ambry Genetics has also offered their affected customers access to identity monitoring and credit protection services. These services are available to those who have had sensitive information exposed, and provide additional protection against identity theft. To stay ahead of the incident, the company reminds their customers to remain vigilant through monitoring their credit activity and communications.
4. Is Your Data Safe From a Breach? What To Do Now
What Types of Breaches Can Occur?
Data breaches involve malicious actors stealing or otherwise gaining access to confidential or sensitive information. They can come in many forms, including:
- Unauthorized access to personal records.
- Hacking of the company’s computer systems.
- Phishing or malware scams.
Companies of all sizes need to take steps to protect themselves from all of these potential incidents. It’s important to understand the precise nature of the threat, as well as the different types of data breach prevention strategies available.
What To Do Now To Protect Your Data
If you want to keep your data safe from a breach, there are certain steps and processes you can begin to implement right away. Here are a few key ones to consider:
- Restrict access to your systems with secure passwords.
- Routinely update your software.
- Monitor user access to prevent malicious activity.
- Train and regularly update employees on cybersecurity protocols.
These are essential steps you should include in your data security plan. By proactively monitoring your systems for any suspicious or unauthorized activity, and educating your employees on the importance and measures they must take to protect your data, you can begin to protect your company from a potentially devastating data breach.
Q&A
Q: What is the Ambry Genetics Data Breach?
A: The Ambry Genetics Data Breach happened when hackers illegally accessed the data of some Ambry Genetics customers. This data included information like: names, dates of birth, addresses and genetic tests results. No one should have to worry about data breaches like the one Ambry Genetics recently experienced. A simple but effective way to protect yourself from subsequent thefts of data or identity is to create a free LogMeOnce account, which includes free Identity Theft Protection and Dark Web Monitoring. LogmeOnce.com is a great tool to keep your data secure and protected, and to stay informed in cases like the Ambry Genetics data breach. Safeguarding your personal information and being aware of the dangers of identity theft is more important than ever, so set up a free account today at LogMeOnce.com! Keywords: Ambry Genetics Data Breach, Identity Theft Protection, Dark Web Monitoring.
Nicole’s, journey in the tech industry is marked by a passion for learning and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Whether it’s delving into the latest software developments or exploring innovative computing solutions, Nicole’s expertise is evident in her insightful and informative writing style. Her ability to connect with readers through her words makes her a valuable asset in any technical communication endeavor.