ITRC reports 377 health care data breaches in 2016

The number of U.S. data breaches tracked in 2016 hit a record 1,093, including 377 incidents in the health care and medical field, according to a recent report by the Identity Theft Resource Center. Hacking/skimming/phishing attacks were the leading cause of data breach incidents for the eighth consecutive year, accounting for more than half of breaches reported in the business, educational, health care, government/military and financial sectors, the organization said. ITRC compiles a list of data breaches confirmed by media sources or notification lists from state agencies. It defines a breach as an event in which an individual’s name plus social security number, driver’s license number, medical or financial record or credit/debit card is potentially put at risk, either in electronic or paper format.