On December 7, 2023, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center (“Fred Hutch”) posted a website notice explaining that the organization was the recent victim of what appears to be a cyberattack. In this notice, Fred Hutch explains that the incident resulted in an unauthorized party being able to access portions of its computer system, which has raised patients’ concerns about a possible Fred Hutch data breach. Upon completing its investigation, Fred Hutch indicated that it will notify anyone whose information was affected by the recent data security incident.

If you receive a data breach notification from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, it is essential you understand what is at risk and what you can do about it. While Fred Hutch is still looking into the impact of the incident on patient data, news reports indicate that some patients have been contacted by hackers already, asking for money to scrub their SSNs from the dark web. A data breach lawyer can help you learn more about how to protect yourself from becoming a victim of fraud or identity theft, as well as discuss your legal options following a possible Fred Hutch Cancer Center data breach. For more information, please see our recent piece on the topic here.

Was There a Fred Hutch Data Breach?

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center has confirmed that it experienced a network security incident; however, the company hasn’t indicated whether the hackers were able to access any confidential data. So, it’s too soon to definitively say that was the case. However, according to a report by KIRO 7, some Fred Hutch patients were contacted by hackers. One man told reporters that he received an email from the hackers, who indicated that his Social Security number was obtained in the Fred Hutch breach and that he would need to pay the hackers $50 to have them scrub his SSN from the dark web.

Currently, Fred Hutch has informed law enforcement about the incident and is working with third-party data security specialists to investigate its impact on patient information. Fred Hutch has indicated that it “will contact any individuals whose information was involved” once the investigation is complete. These letters should provide victims with a list of what information belonging to them was compromised.

More Information About Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center

Founded in 1975, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is a cancer research institute based in Seattle, Washington. However, prior to the 2022 merger between Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, the organization was known as the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Fred Hutch conducts research and clinical trials, as well as treats dozens of forms of cancer through eleven locations in and around Seattle. Fred Hutch Cancer Center employs more than 5,700 people and generates approximately $984 million in annual revenue.