On September 23, 2022, Northern California Fertility Medical Center (“NCFMC”) filed an official notice of a data breach with the Attorney General of California after an unauthorized party accessed the company’s network and attempted to encrypt certain files. According to NCFMC, the breach resulted in the names and protected health information belonging to some patients being compromised. Recently, NCFMC sent out data breach letters to all affected parties, informing them of the incident and what they can do to protect themselves from identity theft and other frauds.

What We Know About the Northern California Fertility Medical Center Data Breach

The available information regarding the Northern California Fertility Medical Center breach comes from the company’s filing with the California Attorney General’s Office, as well as other state government entities. According to this source, Northern California Fertility Medical Center recently detected a network security incident after an unauthorized party was able to gain access to the company’s network. NCFMC also indicates that the unauthorized party attempted to encrypt some of the files on its network.

In response, the company terminated the unauthorized access, reported the incident to law enforcement, and enlisted the assistance of third-party cybersecurity specialists to help with the company’s investigation.

The Northern California Fertility Medical Center investigation revealed that the unauthorized party was able to access certain files on its network and that some of these files contained sensitive patient information.

Upon discovering that sensitive consumer data was made available to an unauthorized party, Northern California Fertility Medical Center began to review the affected files to determine what information was compromised and which consumers were impacted. While the breached information varies depending on the individual, it may include your full name and status regarding any ultrasound performed at NCFMC as well as any cryopreserved tissue stored at NCFMC.

On September 23, 2022, Northern California Fertility Medical Center sent out data breach letters to all individuals whose information was compromised as a result of the recent data security incident.

More Information About Northern California Fertility Medical Center

Established in 1992, the Northern California Fertility Medical Center is a healthcare provider and fertility clinic based in Sacramento, California. The company provides patients with a range of fertility services, such as laparoscopic laser surgery, microsurgery, ovulation induction, artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization, and IVF with egg donation and egg freezing. In 2021, Northern California Fertility Medical Center became an affiliate of the University of California -- Davis Health. Northern California Fertility Medical Center employs more than 40 people and generates approximately $10 million in annual revenue.

If you received a “Notice of Data incident” from the Northern California Fertility Medical Center, your protected health information was compromised in the recent data breach. As a result, in addition to your personal information ending up in the hands of a total stranger and potential criminal, you are also at an increased risk of identity theft. To learn more about what steps you can take to protect yourself from becoming a victim of fraud or identity theft and what your legal options are following the Northern California Fertility Medical Center data breach, you can review our recent post here.