Rhode Island officials have issued an urgent advisory for residents to take immediate precautions following a significant cyberattack on the state government. Authorities are warning that private data, including Social Security and bank account details, may soon be exposed due to the breach.
Governor Dan McKee and other state officials held a press conference earlier this week to address the situation and provide guidance. “We know this situation is alarming, and it’s stressful,” McKee stated. He encouraged residents to bookmark the official website where updates on the incident will be posted.
Details of the Cyberattack
The breach occurred on December 5, when officials discovered that an international cybercriminal gang might have hacked into RIBridges, the state system previously known as UHIP. This platform supports various health and benefits programs. Concerns escalated after hackers shared a screenshot of file folders from RIBridges, suggesting that malware had been installed on the system.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the hackers may have accessed sensitive information from hundreds of thousands of residents who have used state programs over the past eight years. Impacted individuals will receive a notification letter from the state.
Affected State Programs
The affected programs include:
- Medicaid
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)
- HealthSource RI health insurance
- Rhode Island Works
- Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS)
- General Public Assistance (GPA)
- AT HOME cost-sharing
As a precaution, these programs will transition to paper applications starting next week, as the HealthyRhode online portal remains offline during the investigation.
Matt Weldon, director of the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, assured residents that the state’s separate system for unemployment insurance and other out-of-work benefits has not been affected by the cyberattack.
Steps for Residents to Protect Themselves
Michael Tetreault, a cybersecurity advisor with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, provided the following recommendations for Rhode Islanders who believe they may be impacted:
- Strengthen your passwords and avoid using the same password across multiple accounts.
- Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) on all online accounts.
- Contact the three major credit-monitoring bureaus to freeze your credit as a precaution.
While the investigation continues, officials are urging residents to remain vigilant and take necessary measures to safeguard their personal information. Regular updates will be provided on the state’s official website, ensuring transparency and assistance for affected individuals.
