The Aflac data breach has raised new concerns in the U.S. insurance sector. On Friday, health insurance giant Aflac confirmed it had experienced a cybersecurity attack. However, the company claimed the issue was handled within hours. Despite the quick response, many experts remain uneasy about the increasing threat to insurers.
Earlier this week, other companies also suffered cyberattacks. Erie Insurance endured a full week of disruption. Philadelphia Insurance Companies also faced downtime for several days. These incidents show a clear pattern of cybercriminals targeting the insurance industry.
Aflac, known as the leading provider of supplemental health insurance in the U.S., serves around 50 million customers. The company said it had not yet determined how many clients the breach affected. The Aflac data breach reflects a larger wave of cyber threats targeting U.S. companies.
According to Google’s Threat Assessment Group, several recent intrusions in the U.S. resemble previous attacks by a known ransomware group. This group, called Scattered Spider, previously targeted major retail chains and Las Vegas casinos in 2023.
John Hultquist, a lead analyst at Google, warned that the group often focuses on one industry at a time. He advised insurance firms to remain alert, especially against social engineering schemes. These attacks trick help desk workers into giving away sensitive information.
Aflac stated that social engineering was the cause of the breach. However, the company emphasized that ransomware was not used. They avoided naming the attacker, only describing them as a “sophisticated cybercrime group.”
In February 2024, a major cyberattack on Change Healthcare became the largest healthcare breach in U.S. history. That event compromised sensitive information including Social Security numbers, credit card details, and medical records.
Although Aflac resolved the data breach quickly, the incident sends a clear warning. The insurance sector must prepare for more advanced threats. Aflac reassured customers that their support services remain unaffected. Yet, cybersecurity experts urge stronger defenses across the industry.
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