Star Health Confirms Major Cybersecurity Breach Affecting Millions
India’s Leading Health Insurer Targeted in Sophisticated Cyberattack
Star Health and Allied Insurance, India’s premier health insurance provider, has officially confirmed a significant data breach following weeks of investigation. The company acknowledged a “malicious cyberattack” that led to unauthorized access to sensitive customer information.
Key Details of the Breach
- Timeline: Cybercriminals initially leaked data in late September 2024
- Scale: Potentially affects 31 million policyholders and 5.8 million insurance claims
- Data Exposed: Includes:
- Full names and contact information
- Home addresses and medical reports
- Insurance claim details
- Customer ID cards and tax documents
Company Response and Investigation
The Chennai-based insurer stated:
“We’ve engaged independent cybersecurity experts for a thorough forensic investigation. We’re working closely with regulatory authorities and have filed all required reports and criminal complaints.”
Despite the breach, Star Health maintains that its operations remain unaffected and services continue uninterrupted.
Legal Actions Taken
- Filed complaint with Madras High Court against Telegram for hosting leak-related chatbots
- Included Cloudflare in lawsuit for hosting hacker group’s websites
- Reported incident to CERT-In (Indian Computer Emergency Response Team)
Critical Unanswered Questions
While the investigation continues, several key aspects remain unclear:
- Exact method of data compromise
- Whether insider involvement occurred
- Full scope of accessed information
- Identity of threat actors
The company’s Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) has been cooperating with investigators, with Star Health stating:
“We’ve found no evidence of wrongdoing by our CISO. We urge respect for his privacy during this investigation.”
About Star Health
As India’s largest health insurer, Star Health boasts:
- Network of 14,000+ hospitals
- 850+ branch offices nationwide
- Coverage for 170 million individuals
This incident highlights growing cybersecurity challenges in India’s healthcare sector and raises important questions about data protection measures for sensitive medical information.
Note: TechCrunch has chosen not to link to hacker-controlled sites containing personally identifiable information.
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