Breach, Data Security

Flaw in vendor database, info on more than 7,000 veterans possibly exposed

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is notifying more than 7,000 individuals that their personal information may be at risk after a flaw was discovered in a database managed by a home telehealth services vendor.

How many victims? 7,054. 

What type of personal information? Names, addresses, dates of birth, phone numbers and VA patient identification numbers.

What happened? A flaw was discovered in a database managed by a home telehealth services vendor, and the personal information could have been exposed.

What was the response? The flaw has been corrected. All impacted individuals are being notified, and offered credit protection services.

Details: The vendor notified VA on Nov. 4.

Quote: “The contracted vendor has assured VA that only vendor staff and VA staff had accessed this information,” a VA spokesperson was quoted as saying in an email. “The security flaw in the vendor database was immediately corrected and VA continues to closely monitor the application.”

Source: federalnewsradio.com, “Contractor security flaw puts data of 7,000 veterans at risk,” Dec. 24, 2014.

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