Rhode Island Ransomware Attack Results in $5 Million Recovery Fund

News Summary

A ransomware attack on Rhode Island’s health and social services has compromised personal information of 650,000 individuals, prompting the state to allocate $5 million for recovery efforts. The incident, discovered in December 2024, involved the leakage of sensitive data on the dark web. Governor Dan McKee announced the fund will assist affected customers and support the establishment of a data breach call center. Recovery initiatives are underway as officials urge residents to remain vigilant about potential fraud.

Providence, Rhode Island – A significant ransomware attack on Rhode Island’s health and social services system has prompted the state government to allocate $5 million to cover recovery efforts. The incident, which involved a criminal threat group, was first discovered on December 5, 2024, and affected approximately 650,000 individuals’ personal information linked to the RIBridges program managed by Deloitte.

The hackers threatened to leak sensitive data, which they subsequently published on the dark web. The compromised information included Social Security numbers, employment details, and financial data, which raised serious concerns about the affected individuals’ privacy and security. The range of exposed personally identifiable information encompassed names, addresses, dates of birth, and some banking details, leaving many Rhode Islanders vulnerable.

In response to this incident, Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee announced on February 4, 2025, that Deloitte would provide the financial support needed to mitigate the damage caused by the breach. The $5 million fund is expected to assist around 2,000 HealthSource RI customers who enrolled in health coverage for January and February 2025.

As part of the recovery process, the HealthSource RI marketplace for health insurance is collaborating with insurers such as Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island to ensure affected customers can enroll directly with these providers. This coordination aims to provide a seamless transition for those whose health coverage may have been disrupted by the data breach.

In addition to supporting vulnerable customers, Deloitte will cover expenses associated with establishing a data breach call center, which will facilitate credit monitoring and identity protection services for individuals affected by the incident. A dedicated call center is set to open, offering support and guidance on how to manage credit monitoring and safeguard personal information in light of the breach.

State officials confirmed that access to online accounts for health and social services will be restored shortly, allowing customers to submit applications and manage their accounts through the HealthyRhode portal. Currently, the RIBridges system is undergoing a phased relaunch, with full restoration efforts expected to be completed by mid-January.

Amidst the recovery initiatives, officials have warned residents to remain vigilant against potential fraud resulting from the leaked credentials. They have urged individuals to check their credit reports and implement multifactor authentication to protect their personal data. The state government, along with Deloitte, is devising plans to identify those impacted by the breach and will directly notify them about the situation and available support initiatives.

Despite the extensive data breach, state officials clarified that payments for food assistance and cash benefits would continue to be processed on time and remain unaffected by the attack. The state’s primary focus moving forward is to ensure that residents can regain access to vital health services and maintain stability while restoring security measures.

This ransomware attack highlights the critical need for robust cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive information within public systems. The assisted recovery process not only focuses on the immediate financial implications but also on reinforcing the integrity and security of Rhode Island’s health and social services moving forward.

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