UnitedHealth Paid Ransom to Cyberhackers After Patients' Personal Data Was Compromised The hack occurred in February.

By Emily Rella

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

UnitedHealth Group has paid an undisclosed ransom to hackers in an attempt to retain patient data that may have been compromised.

The attack, which happened in February, affected patients of Change Healthcare, a division of United's Optum.

"This attack was conducted by malicious threat actors, and we continue to work with law enforcement and multiple leading cyber security firms during our investigation," a UnitedHealth rep told CNBC. "A ransom was paid as part of the company's commitment to do all it could to protect patient data from disclosure."

Related: A Cyberattack on the Largest Health Insurer in the U.S. Could Put Your Prescriptions and Personal Data at Risk

UnitedHealth revealed that the hacked files contained protected health information and personally identifiable information to "a substantial proportion of people in America," though the company did not disclose exactly how many patients were affected.

So far, UnitedHealth said there was no evidence of data being exfiltrated to be used maliciously, and doctors' charts and medical histories do not seem to be part of the hacked data set.

"We know this attack has caused concern and been disruptive for consumers and providers, and we are committed to doing everything possible to help and provide support to anyone who may need it," said Andrew Witty, CEO of UnitedHealth Group, in a company release.

UnitedHealth estimates it will take several months of analysis to determine the specific individuals affected by the hack, but 22 screenshots from what appeared to be exfiltrated files containing Persona Health Information (PHI) and Personal Identifiable Information (PII) were posted on the dark web for a week.

Related: Maine Hacked in Data Breach, 1.3 Million Residents At Risk

The company is offering two years of free access to a dedicated call center for credit monitoring and identity theft protection to those impacted.

"While this comprehensive data analysis is conducted, the company is in communication with law enforcement and regulators and will provide appropriate notifications when the company can confirm the information involved," UnitedHealth said.

Emily Rella

Senior News Writer

Emily Rella is a Senior News Writer at Entrepreneur.com. Previously, she was an editor at Verizon Media. Her coverage spans features, business, lifestyle, tech, entertainment, and lifestyle. She is a 2015 graduate of Boston College and a Ridgefield, CT native. Find her on Twitter at @EmilyKRella.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Business News

Uber's CEO Says Drivers Have About 10 Years Left Before They Will Be Replaced

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi says the jobs of human drivers are safe for the next decade, but after that, another type of driver will take over.

Business News

'Everyone Can Profit From It': What Is DeepSeek? China's 'Cheap' to Make AI Chatbot Climbs to the Top of Apple, Google U.S. App Stores

DeepSeek researchers claim it was developed for less than $6 million, a contrast to the $100 million it takes U.S. tech startups to create AI.

Business News

Elon Musk's DOGE Is Hiring People Eager to 'Work Long Hours' to Eliminate 'Waste, Fraud and Abuse' in the Government. Here's How to Apply.

The Department of Government Efficiency is hiring U.S. citizens to help cut spending and headcounts in the federal government.

Business News

'I Love Doing Product Reviews': Bill Gates Stepped Down from Microsoft in 2020, But Admits He Still Spends 15% of His Time Working at the Company

In a new interview with the Wall Street Journal, Gates also said he is still close with Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella.

Branding

How to Build a Strong Brand Identity for Your Early-Stage Startup

Branding might not be your first priority, but neglecting it can hurt your startup. A strong brand identity early on sets the stage for marketing success.