Almerys breach exposes French health users' social security data

A major French health-care payment intermediary, Almerys, has reported a data breach involving unauthorized access to its key authorization portal. This breach may have exposed sensitive personal data, such as Social Security equivalent numbers, raising concerns about identity theft. While Almerys has confirmed the intrusion, it has not disclosed the number of potentially affected individuals.

The breach has disrupted the online system used for approving medical coverage requests, leading to immediate shutdown for investigation. The incident is expected to increase risks related to phishing and impersonation scams, prompting alerts from insurers, including the digital health company Alan. This breach notably affects access to various health services in France, including eyeglasses and dental care.