Watch CBS News

Health Insurance Company Hit By 'Very Sophisticated' Attack

DENVER (CBS4) - Health insurer Anthem said Thursday morning that hackers infiltrated its computer network and accessed a wealth of personal information about their customers.

Anthem and its two primary plans in Colorado, "HMO Colorado" and the "Rocky Mountain Hospital and Medical Company," together hold about 15% of the health insurance market of the state.

Both current and former customers' information was hacked, including details like income and street addresses. According to CBS News, Anthem President and CEO Joseph R. Swedish called the cyberattack "very sophisticated."

Credit card information was not compromised, and the company has yet to find evidence that medical information, such as insurance claims and tests results, was obtained.

Further information that was stolen included customers' names, birth dates, social security numbers, email addresses, and employment details, reported CBS News.

Anthem has created a website to provide information to customers who may be victim to the attack. In part, it states:

"Once the attack was discovered, Anthem immediately made every effort to close the security vulnerability, contacted the FBI and began fully cooperating with their investigation. Anthem has also retained Mandiant, one of the world's leading cybersecurity firms, to evaluate our systems and identify solutions based on the evolving landscape."

Anthem's own associates were hacked as well, the website states, and the company plans to individually notify all members whose information has been accessed. The site also includes a number to call with questions about the incident.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.