The Worldwide Australian Labradoodle Association has been the target of a new cyberattack in which private data of pet owners, pet microchip numbers, veterinarians, and testing laboratories affiliated with WALA have been leaked to the public as a result of the latest cybersecurity incident.
Fowler's analysis concluded that the exposed records contained PII information, which can include names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, microchip numbers, and other medical-related information regarding the owners of the pets, the records also contained other medical information about these pets.
Pet medical data has a lot of implications that have never been considered when users think of a data breach involving health records.
The pet industry generates tremendous amounts of money every year, and history has shown that there is always an element of risk involved when there is a possibility of making money.
Approximately 67% of US households - or 85 million families - own one or more pets which is about the number of households in this country.
Pet insurance policies typically cover accidents, illnesses, and, in some cases, routine care.
Certain policies even provide coverage for hereditary conditions and wellness check-ups, ensuring comprehensive protection for your beloved pet's health.
It is crucial to consider the potential risks associated with a data breach in the context of pet insurance fraud.
The primary purpose of pet microchipping is to find or identify lost pets and reunite them with their owners.
Knowing a pet's microchip number alone does not inherently pose a significant risk to the pet's safety or security; however, when combined with other information and ownership data, there could be potential risks.
Hypothetically, criminals could falsely claim ownership of a lost or stolen pet using a publicly leaked microchip number, putting the pet's well-being at risk.
This highlights the need for pet owners to be vigilant and take necessary precautions.
Pet theft is a real concern - an estimated 2 million dogs are stolen every year in the United States.
The alarming rise in pet theft cases is a cause for concern among pet owners nationwide.
Pet owners need to be proactive in safeguarding their pets and ensuring their well-being at all times.
Even if the criminal does not have physical access to the pet, there are other risks.
A social engineering scheme would allow criminals to contact pet owners, posing as authority figures, and request personal information from them to update the microchip database, certifications, or other registrations.
In light of this, pet owners are advised to exercise caution when confronted with requests for information about their pet's microchip.
As a precautionary measure, it is always advisable to verify the identity of individuals claiming to be authority figures and promptly report any suspicious activity related to their pet's microchip to the appropriate microchip registry and local authorities.
Pet owners can actively contribute to safeguarding their personal information and preventing potential instances of fraud or identity theft.
This Cyber News was published on www.cysecurity.news. Publication date: Thu, 07 Dec 2023 13:13:05 +0000