Senior Cyber Safety Briefing – October 5, 2025

🚨ALERT – Rhysida ransomware attack hits MedStar Health
👉Why it matters – MedStar Health is a major U.S. healthcare provider, and a ransomware hit here could expose patient medical records, billing data, and personal identifiers. This is exactly the kind of breach that jeopardizes both privacy and trust in systems we rely on. 
📣Call to Action – If you're or a loved one a MedStar patient, monitor any notices, enroll in offered credit monitoring, and change login info for health portals now.

🧠MUST‑READ – New Android malware campaign targets seniors via Facebook groups
👉Why it matters – Scammers are infiltrating social spaces seniors trust — like groups for hobbies or local events — and persuading users to install malware disguised as “fun apps.” Once installed, it can steal passwords or financial info. 
📣Call to Action – Don’t install apps from links shared in social posts, even by friends — use your official app store and check permissions carefully.

📈ECONOMY & SECURITY – Federal cybersharing law expired amid shutdown
👉Why it matters – The CISA (Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act) of 2015 expired as part of a U.S. government shutdown. That removes legal protections for companies and agencies to share threat data — weakening our collective defense. 
📣Call to Action – Expect slower detection and alerts; use personal vigilance (strong passwords, MFA) to compensate.

🔥PRIVACY & BIG TECH – Healthcare Interactive discloses breach of sensitive health data
👉Why it matters – The breach includes names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, diagnoses, and insurance claims — a goldmine for identity thieves. Service providers who touch your health data are prime targets. 
📣Call to Action – If you’ve had interactions via Healthcare Interactive (billing or enrollment), request a breach notice, freeze credit where possible, and closely watch for unusual medical claims.

✅Quick Safety Tip of the Day
Use a password manager to generate and store complex passwords — never reuse the same password on multiple sites.

(AI was used to create this article.)

🙋Closing Note

Stay safe, stay secure, stay curious, and remember my friends—you’re never too old to outsmart a scammer👋