Online AI Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Provider Exposed Patient Data

Introduction

BetterHelp, an online mental health and addiction treatment provider using artificial intelligence (AI), exposed sensitive patient data in a data breach that affected over 156,000 individuals.

The exposed data included names, addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, and mental health diagnoses.

BetterHelp has since notified those affected by the breach and is offering free credit monitoring services.

The Data Breach

The data breach occurred on April 29, 2023, when an unauthorized third party gained access to BetterHelp's database.

The breach was discovered on May 1, 2023, and BetterHelp immediately took steps to secure its systems and prevent further unauthorized access.

BetterHelp has not disclosed how the unauthorized third party gained access to its database, but it is investigating the matter.

The Exposed Data

The exposed data included a range of sensitive information, including:

• Names
• Addresses
• Email addresses
• Phone numbers
• Mental health diagnoses

This information could be used by criminals to commit identity theft, fraud, or other crimes.

BetterHelp's Response

BetterHelp has notified those affected by the breach and is offering free credit monitoring services.

BetterHelp has also taken steps to secure its systems and prevent further unauthorized access.

BetterHelp is cooperating with law enforcement officials to investigate the matter.

Conclusion

The data breach at BetterHelp is a reminder of the importance of protecting sensitive information.

Individuals who are concerned about their privacy should consider taking steps to protect their data, such as using strong passwords, being cautious about what information they share online, and regularly monitoring their credit reports.