The French healthcare and insurance industries have been shaken at the start of 2024 by the announcement of a massive breach of personal data by two of its main service providers, Viamedis and Almerys. Both said they were victims of data compromises on an unprecedented scale in the French national territory. Their platforms were infiltrated by cybercriminals in late January/early February, as the attackers reportedly accessed archives of personal data including social security numbers and professional data.
On 7 February, 法国国家信息与自由委员会(CNIL), the national authority responsible for oversight of personal data protection, revealed that 超过3300万人 ——几乎占法国人口的一半——都可能受到影响. This figure is drawn from initial notifications from Viamedis and Almerys, who together service over 150 mutual insurance partners and process data for nearly 40 million insured individuals. As the investigation proceeds, a precise count of the affected individuals is still unknown.
泄露的数据包括姓名, addresses, dates of birth, 社会安全号码和特定的保险政策数据. 财务和医疗信息显然没有受到影响. However, 有关医疗服务提供者的专业信息, 管理第三方支付的关键是什么, has been exposed. This can seriously complicate the patient care process and create new challenges, 比如验光等行业, 哪些地方的前期成本很高.
This cyberattack underscores an ongoing problem of keeping personal data safe in the digital age. 虽然它没有像 2017年Equifax数据泄露事件, 泄露了1.47亿人的敏感信息, it’s large enough to reinforce that cybersecurity threats are a worldwide problem. It also illustrates the relatively sophisticated techniques that cybercriminals are using: it isn't just a case of targeting a website, but exploiting weaknesses in entire digital ecosystems to get access to huge amounts of information.
Viamedis和Almerys事件也没有随着泄漏而结束. People affected are at immediate risk of phishing attempts that use the exact sort of personalized info they’ve lost. Also, the long-term risk of identity fraud reveals the real-world implications of attacks like these. Now, victims not only have to deal with the problem of having their personal data leaked, 但也要为欺诈购买的可能性做好准备, having their credit cancelled or going through the hassle of reclaiming their identities. This is a clear example of why constant vigilance and protective measures against such threats are necessary when handling large amounts of personal data.
This news is also a reminder of the need for both private and corporate customers to practice sound security policy. 在用户方面, this includes being extremely vigilant when someone contacts us unsolicited, asking ourselves to whom we give information before we share it and, in general, 最终对我们自己的安全负责. Companies, for their part, must reflect these measures in their defense strategies and implement in-depth data protection. 更重要的是，这一事件凸显了 对数字信任的需求, which demands both technical solutions and a shift in organizational culture to ensure personal data is protected.
建立和维护数字信任绝非易事. It requires a sustained and evolving effort to protect ourselves against an increasingly dangerous array of cyber threats, 对网络安全的持续和大量投资, and a commitment to open and accountable measures that govern the data entrusted to us. After all, as digital interactions become an increasingly fundamental part of our daily lives, protecting that personal information is the cornerstone upon which trust in our digital economy rests.
In summary, the cyberattack against Viamedis and Almerys reminds us once again that all digital infrastructure is vulnerable (and that we are all potential targets), as well as about the importance of individual vigilance and the need to embrace digital trust. 保护我们的数据从未像现在这样重要, so users and businesses must accept our collective responsibility to keep personal information safe. 通往数字信任的道路漫长而复杂, but we can create a safer digital society through continued education and implementation of the right frameworks.
作者简介: Pablo Ballarin is an independent cybersecurity consultant who helps companies in a variety of industries define and implement their cybersecurity strategies to establish trust. Often, trust also requires managing the risks associated with emerging technologies, 比如缺乏透明度, 人类自主性的丧失, 偏见与安全. 因此，他的咨询服务也涵盖了负责任的人工智能.
巴勃罗是Balusian的创始人, professor, lecturer, member of the scientific council of IAEAI (Israel Association for Ethics in 人工智能), 巴伦西亚ISACA董事会成员, member of the ISACA Emerging Trends Working Group and coordinator of the Center for Industrial Cybersecurity (CCI) in Spain.
巴勃罗是一位电信工程师, MsC in 人工智能 and is currently finishing an MsC in Philosophy for Contemporary Challenges. He 持有以下专业证书:CISM, CISA, CRISC, CDPSE, CSX-F, CISSP, CEET, CEHv9, ISO 27001 LA, TOGAF, ISO 20000-1, ITILv3.
