A significant cybersecurity breach of the RIBridges system in Rhode Island has led to the exposure of private data of a large number of residents. The breach prompted the state to take down its online portal used for social services such as SNAP and Medicaid benefits, as well as health insurance through HealthSourceRI.
State officials confirmed that potentially hundreds of thousands of individuals may have had their personal information compromised, including names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and banking information. The breach was discovered on December 5 by vendor Deloitte, leading to the system being taken offline on December 13.
Hackers installed malware and demanded a ransom, although officials did not disclose the amount. The attack was described as more of an extortion type activity rather than ransomware. Customers who have received or applied for health coverage and various benefits through the RIBridges system may be affected by the breach.
The state is providing free credit monitoring for impacted households and advising customers to monitor their accounts for unauthorized activity, freeze credit, change passwords, and contact their bank for further security measures. A dedicated call center for impacted customers will be available for assistance.
Updates and information for affected individuals will be available on the state’s website. The breach comes during the open enrollment period for HealthSourceRI, with additional measures being implemented to ensure data security moving forward.
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