Louisiana Blue Cross Confirms Data Breach
The company compromises the personal data of about 1,700 brokers via an e-mail, exposing information such as Social Security numbers, phone numbers and addresses, a Blue Cross spokesman says.
Comments 0 | Recommend 0
October 2, 2008
Louisiana Blue Cross Confirms Data Breach
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Louisiana compromised the personal data
of about 1,700 brokers via an e-mail last week, exposing information such as
Social Security numbers, phone numbers and addresses, a Blue Cross spokesman
said.
The breach occurred Thursday, September 25, when a document containing the
data was accidentally attached to a general e-mail being sent to brokers
notifying them of a software upgrade. The brokers who received the e-mail were
the same people whose information was exposed. The spokesman said no customer
data was involved.
Blue Cross recalled the e-mail within moments of sending it, the spokesman
said, but the e-mail still made its way to the brokers. The insurer notified
them of the error, apologized and requested recipients delete the information
and confirm with Blue Cross they had done so.
The company is offering free credit monitoring to the affected brokers for 12
months and has taken steps with its technology systems to assure such an error
does not occur again, the spokesman said.
Guidelines: Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed
from the site. We will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies
or any other policies governing this site. You are fully responsible for the content you post.
If you enjoy the content on the Workforce Management Web site and want to see more, try 3 issues of our print edition risk-free. If you wish to continue, you will receive one full year for just $79. That's over 59% off the cover price. If you decide Workforce Management is not for you, just write "Cancel" on the invoice, return it and owe nothing. The 3 issues are yours to keep with no further obligation to us. Sign up below.
Offer valid for new Workforce Management Subscribers only.
Canada subscribers - $129. All other Foreign - $199.
= Member Only
