Newsroom

August 24, 2014

Cyber-attack hits Community Health

Aug. 19, 2014 – Community Health Systems Inc. announced it was hit by a China-based cyber-attack in April and June, which compromised data for as many as 4.5 million patients from the hospitals in its system.

According to Reuters, the stolen data includes patients' names, contact information and social security numbers, and includes patients seen by doctors affiliated with the large hospital group during the past five years. Community Health said federal law enforcement officials had told them the attack's technique links it to a known group of hackers in China.

Last week, nationwide supermarket chain Supervalu Inc. alerted its customers to a potential data breach on its point-of-sales network sometime between June 22 through July 17 at 180 of its stores and stand-alone liquor stores.

The company's statement said the investigation is ongoing and that whether or not any debit or credit card data was stolen is unknown.

Other high profile merchant data breaches in the past year include Target Corporation, Neiman Marcus Group, restaurant chain P.F. Chang's China Bistro and Goodwill Industries thrift stores.

NAFCU was the first financial trade association to call for a national data security standard for retailers in the wake of the massive Target data breach last year, and continues to push for action in Congress to help financial institutions combat security threats.