In the past decade, healthcare data has become one of the most sought-after targets in cybercrime. From insurers to clinics, every player in the ecosystem handles some form of sensitive information. 

However, breaches do not always originate from hospitals or health apps. Increasingly, patient data is managed by third-party vendors offering digital services such as scheduling, billing and marketing. 

One such breach at a digital marketing agency serving dental practices recently exposed approximately 2.7 million patient profiles and more than 8.8 million appointment records.

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Illustration of a hacker at work   (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Massive healthcare data leak exposes millions: What you need to know

Cybernews researchers have discovered a misconfigured MongoDB database exposing 2.7 million patient profiles and 8.8 million appointment records. The database was publicly accessible online, unprotected by passwords or authentication protocols. Anyone with basic knowledge of database scanning tools could have accessed it.

The exposed data included names, birthdates, addresses, emails, phone numbers, gender, chart IDs, language preferences and billing classifications. Appointment records also contained metadata such as timestamps and institutional identifiers.

MASSIVE DATA BREACH EXPOSES 184 MILLION PASSWORDS AND LOGINS

Clues within the data structure point toward Gargle, a Utah-based company that builds websites and offers marketing tools for dental practices. While not a confirmed source, several internal references and system details suggest a strong connection. Gargle provides appointment scheduling, form submission and patient communication services. These functions require access to patient information, making the firm a likely link in the exposure.

After the issue was reported, the database was secured. The duration of the exposure remains unknown, and there is no public evidence indicating whether the data was downloaded by malicious actors before being locked down.

We reached out to Gargle for a comment but did not hear back before our deadline.

A healthcare professional viewing heath data      (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

DOUBLECLICKJACKING HACK TURNS DOUBLE-CLICKS INTO ACCOUNT TAKEOVERS

How healthcare data breaches lead to identity theft and insurance fraud

The exposed data presents a broad risk profile. On its own, a phone number or billing record might seem limited in scope. Combined, however, the dataset forms a complete profile that could be exploited for identity theft, insurance fraud and targeted phishing campaigns.

Medical identity theft allows attackers to impersonate patients and access services under a false identity. Victims often remain unaware until significant damage is done, ranging from incorrect medical records to unpaid bills in their names. The leak also opens the door to insurance fraud, with actors using institutional references and chart data to submit false claims.

This type of breach raises questions about compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, which mandates strong security protections for entities handling patient data. Although Gargle is not a healthcare provider, its access to patient-facing infrastructure could place it under the scope of that regulation as a business associate.

A healthcare professional working on a laptop   (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

MALWARE EXPOSES 3.9 BILLION PASSWORDS IN HUGE CYBERSECURITY THREAT

5 ways you can stay safe from healthcare data breaches

If your information was part of the healthcare breach or any similar one, it’s worth taking a few steps to protect yourself.

1. Consider identity theft protection services: Since the healthcare data breach exposed personal and financial information, it’s crucial to stay proactive against identity theft. Identity theft protection services offer continuous monitoring of your credit reports, Social Security number and even the dark web to detect if your information is being misused. These services send you real-time alerts about suspicious activity, such as new credit inquiries or attempts to open accounts in your name, helping you act quickly before serious damage occurs. Beyond monitoring, many identity theft protection companies provide dedicated recovery specialists who assist you in resolving fraud issues, disputing unauthorized charges and restoring your identity if it’s compromised. See my tips and best picks on how to protect yourself from identity theft.

2. Use personal data removal services: The healthcare data breach leaks loads of information about you, and all this could end up in the public domain, which essentially gives anyone an opportunity to scam you.  

One proactive step is to consider personal data removal services, which specialize in continuously monitoring and removing your information from various online databases and websites. While no service promises to remove all your data from the internet, having a removal service is great if you want to constantly monitor and automate the process of removing your information from hundreds of sites continuously over a longer period of time. Check out my top picks for data removal services here. 

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Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web

3. Have strong antivirus software: Hackers have people’s email addresses and full names, which makes it easy for them to send you a phishing link that installs malware and steals all your data. These messages are socially engineered to catch them, and catching them is nearly impossible if you’re not careful. However, you’re not without defenses.

The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe. Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.

4. Enable two-factor authentication: While passwords weren’t part of the data breach, you still need to enable two-factor authentication (2FA). It gives you an extra layer of security on all your important accounts, including email, banking and social media. 2FA requires you to provide a second piece of information, such as a code sent to your phone, in addition to your password when logging in. This makes it significantly harder for hackers to access your accounts, even if they have your password. Enabling 2FA can greatly reduce the risk of unauthorized access and protect your sensitive data.

5. Be wary of mailbox communications: Bad actors may also try to scam you through snail mail. The data leak gives them access to your address. They may impersonate people or brands you know and use themes that require urgent attention, such as missed deliveries, account suspensions and security alerts. 

WINDOWS 10 SECURITY FLAWS LEAVE MILLIONS VULNERABLE

Kurt’s key takeaway

If nothing else, this latest leak shows just how poorly patient data is being handled today. More and more, non-medical vendors are getting access to sensitive information without facing the same rules or oversight as hospitals and clinics. These third-party services are now a regular part of how patients book appointments, pay bills or fill out forms. But when something goes wrong, the fallout is just as serious. Even though the database was taken offline, the bigger problem hasn’t gone away. Your data is only as safe as the least careful company that gets access to it.

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Recently, Aircela, a fuel company headquartered in New York, publicly demonstrated a machine in Manhattan that produces gasoline directly from air. 

The event attracted city and state officials, investors and energy professionals who witnessed the launch of this compact, refrigerator-sized unit. 

Aircela’s technology combines direct air capture with on-site fuel synthesis, providing fossil-free gasoline that is fully compatible with existing engines and infrastructure.

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Aircela’s air-to-gasoline machine  (Aircela)

Understanding the science behind Aircela’s technology

Led by co-founder and CEO Eric Dahlgren (pictured on the right below), Aircela has developed a machine that produces real, engine-ready gasoline from just air and water, powered by renewable electricity and advanced chemical processes. The technology is based on direct air capture research, notably the work of physicist Klaus Lackner (shown on the left below), and is designed for easy installation in residential, commercial and industrial settings.

The process begins by drawing in ambient air and using a water-based solution containing potassium hydroxide to efficiently capture carbon dioxide. As air flows through a specially designed chamber, the liquid sorbent absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which is then regenerated for repeated use. Next, the system uses renewable electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen through electrolysis. The hydrogen is retained for the fuel synthesis process, while the oxygen is safely released into the environment.

FLYING CAR WITH 620-MILE RANGE SCHEDULED FOR UPCOMING LAUNCH

The captured carbon dioxide and generated hydrogen are then combined to create methanol, which is subsequently converted into gasoline using established chemical processes. The resulting gasoline contains no sulfur, ethanol or heavy metals, making it fully compatible with existing engines and infrastructure. Each Aircela unit can produce approximately one gallon of gasoline per day from around 22 pounds of captured carbon dioxide with a storage capacity of up to 17 gallons. This innovative machine enables users to generate fossil-free gasoline on site using only air, water and renewable electricity.

Physicist Klaus Lackner, at left, and Eric Dahlgren, co-founder and CEO of Aircela, at right   (Aircela)

Distributed production sets Aircela apart

Unlike traditional synthetic fuel projects that rely on large, centralized plants, Aircela’s approach is modular and distributed. Each unit can produce gasoline on site, making it suitable for off-grid locations, ports, islands or emergency situations. This design allows users to access cleaner fuel without the need to alter their vehicles or fueling routines.

Aircela’s air-to-gasoline machine  (Aircela)

HYDROGEN FUEL CELL TRUCKS HIT THE ROADS IN GEORGIA

Investment and industry support for Aircela

Aircela has secured funding from notable investors, including Chris Larsen, founder of Ripple Labs’ Jeff Ubben, a board member at ExxonMobil; and Maersk Growth, the venture capital arm of A.P. Moller-Maersk. During the demonstration, Morten Bo Christiansen, Maersk’s head of energy transition, emphasized the machine’s potential to support global efforts to reduce carbon emissions, particularly in the shipping and logistics industries.

Aircela’s air-to-gasoline machine  (Aircela)

Environmental and practical advantages

The process developed by Aircela is intended to be carbon neutral, as the carbon dioxide released when the gasoline is burned is balanced by the amount captured during production. The gasoline works with current engines and fueling systems, so there is no need for costly upgrades. Distributed production reduces reliance on centralized refineries and long supply chains. In addition, the fuel’s purity, free from sulfur and additives, helps lower harmful emissions beyond just carbon dioxide.

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Aircela’s air-to-gasoline machine (Aircela)

Aircela’s next steps and future plans

Aircela plans to begin initial deployments of its machines in the fall of 2025, with a focus on off-grid, commercial and industrial users. The company’s goal is to increase production, reduce costs and make the technology widely available. While the current output is modest, Aircela aims to provide a practical, climate-aligned alternative to fossil fuels that does not require people to change their vehicles or daily habits.

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Signage at Aircela’s air-to-gasoline machine event   (Aircela)

Kurt’s key takeaways

Aircela’s gasoline-from-air machine shows that sometimes the best solutions are the ones that fit right into our daily routines. Instead of requiring new cars or major changes, this technology lets people keep using what they already have, just with cleaner fuel. Watching carbon pulled from the air and turned into gasoline on the spot feels like a practical step toward a more sustainable future. 

As Aircela gets ready to roll out these machines, it will be interesting to see how this approach might help ease the transition to cleaner energy for everyone.

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Your home address might be easier to find online than you think. 

A quick search of your name could turn up past and current locations, all thanks to people finder sites. 

These data broker sites quietly collect and publish personal details without your consent, making your privacy vulnerable with just a few clicks.

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A woman searching for herself online. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

How your address gets exposed online and who’s using it

If you’ve ever searched for your name and found personal details, like your address, on unfamiliar websites, you’re not alone. People finder platforms collect this information from public records and third-party data brokers, then publish and share it widely. They often link your address to other details such as phone numbers, email addresses and even relatives.

11 EASY WAYS TO PROTECT YOUR ONLINE PRIVACY IN 2025

While this data may already be public in various places, these sites make it far easier to access and monetize it at scale. In one recent breach, more than 183 million login credentials were exposed through an unsecured database. Many of these records were linked to physical addresses, raising concerns about how multiple sources of personal data can be combined and exploited.

Although people finder sites claim to help reconnect friends or locate lost contacts, they also make sensitive personal information available to anyone willing to pay. This includes scammers, spammers and identity thieves who use it for fraud, harassment, and targeted scams.

A woman searching for herself online. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

How do people search sites get your home address?

First, let’s define two sources of information; public and private databases that people search sites use to get your detailed profile, including your home address. They run an automated search on these databases with key information about you and add your home address from the search results. 

1. Public sources

Your home address can appear in:

• Property deeds: When you buy or sell a home, your name and address become part of the public record.
• Voter registration: You need to list your address when voting.
• Court documents: Addresses appear in legal filings or lawsuits.
• Marriage and divorce records: These often include current or past addresses.
• Business licenses and professional registrations: If you own a business or hold a license, your address can be listed.

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These records are legal to access, and people finder sites collect and repackage them into detailed personal profiles.

2. Private sources

Other sites buy your data from companies you’ve interacted with:

• Online purchases: When you buy something online, your address is recorded and can be sold to marketing companies.
• Subscriptions and memberships: Magazines, clubs and loyalty programs often share your information.
• Social media platforms: Your location or address details can be gathered indirectly from posts, photos or shared information.
• Mobile apps and websites: Some apps track your location.

People finder sites buy this data from other data brokers and combine it with public records to build complete profiles that include address information.

A woman searching for herself online. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

What are the risks of having your address on people finder sites?

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) advises people to request the removal of their private data, including home addresses, from people search sites due to the associated risks of stalking, scamming and other crimes.

People search sites are a goldmine for cybercriminals looking to target and profile potential victims as well as plan comprehensive cyberattacks. Losses due to targeted phishing attacks increased by 33% in 2024, according to the FBI. So, having your home address publicly accessible can lead to several risks:

• Stalking and harassment: Criminals can easily find your home address and threaten you.
• Identity theft: Scammers can use your address and other personal information to impersonate you or fraudulently open accounts.
• Unwanted contact: Marketers and scammers can use your address to send junk mail or phishing or brushing scams.
• Increased financial risks: Insurance companies or lenders can use publicly available address information to unfairly decide your rates or eligibility.
• Burglary and home invasion: Criminals can use your location to target your home when you’re away or vulnerable.

How to protect your home address

The good news is that you can take steps to reduce the risks and keep your address private. However, keep in mind that data brokers and people search sites can re-list your information after some time, so you might need to request data removal periodically.

I recommend a few ways to delete your private information, including your home address, from such websites.

1. Use personal data removal services: Data brokers can sell your home address and other personal data to multiple businesses and individuals, so the key is to act fast. If you’re looking for an easier way to protect your privacy, a data removal service can do the heavy lifting for you, automatically requesting data removal from brokers and tracking compliance.

While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice. They aren’t cheap — and neither is your privacy. These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites. It’s what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the internet. By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing data from breaches with information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you. Check out my top picks for data removal services here. 

Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web

2. Opt out manually : Use a free scanner provided by a data removal service to check which people search sites that list your address. Then, visit each of these websites and look for an opt-out procedure or form: keywords like “opt out,” “delete my information,” etc., point the way.

Follow each site’s opt-out process carefully, and confirm they’ve removed all your personal info, otherwise, it may get relisted.

3. Monitor your digital footprint: I recommend regularly searching online for your name to see if your location is publicly available. If only your social media profile pops up, there’s no need to worry. However, people finder sites tend to relist your private information, including your home address, after some time.

4. Limit sharing your address online: Be careful about sharing your home address on social media, online forms and apps. Review privacy settings regularly, and only provide your address when absolutely necessary. Also, adjust your phone settings so that apps don’t track your location.

Kurt’s key takeaways

Your home address is more vulnerable than you think. People finder sites aggregate data from public records and private sources to display your address online, often without your knowledge or consent. This can lead to serious privacy and safety risks. Taking proactive steps to protect your home address is essential. Do it manually or use a data removal tool for an easier process. By understanding how your location is collected and taking measures to remove your address from online sites, you can reclaim control over your personal data.

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How do you feel about companies making your home address so easy to find? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact

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Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.  

The Minions pose during the world premiere of the film “Despicable Me 4” in New York City, June 9, 2024.  (REUTERS/Kena Betancur)

Welcome to Fox News’ Artificial Intelligence newsletter with the latest AI technology advancements.

IN TODAY’S NEWSLETTER:
– Major Hollywood studios sue AI company over copyright infringement in landmark move
– Meta’s Zuckerberg aiming to dominate AI race with recruiting push for new ‘superintelligence’ team: report
– OpenAI says this state will play central role in artificial intelligence development

The website of Midjourney, an artificial intelligence (AI) capable of creating AI art, is seen on a smartphone on April 3, 2023, in Berlin, Germany. (Thomas Trutschel/Photothek via Getty Images)

‘PIRACY IS PIRACY’: Two major Hollywood studios are suing Midjourney, a popular AI image generator, over its use and distribution of intellectual property.

AI RACE: Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is reportedly building a team of experts to develop artificial general intelligence (AGI) that can meet or exceed human capabilities.

TECH HUB: New York is poised to play a central role in the development of artificial intelligence (AI), OpenAI executives told key business and civic leaders on Tuesday.

Attendees watch a presentation during an event on the Apple campus in Cupertino, Calif., Monday, June 9, 2025.  (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

APPLE FALLING BEHIND: Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) kicked off on Monday and runs through Friday. But the Cupertino-based company is not making us wait until the end. The major announcements have already been made, and there are quite a few. The headliners are new software versions for Macs, iPhones, iPads and Vision. 

FROM COAL TO CODE: This week, Amazon announced a $20 billion investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure in the form of new data centers, the largest in the commonwealth’s history, according to the eCommerce giant.

DIGITAL DEFENSE: A growing number of fire departments across the country are turning to artificial intelligence to help detect and respond to wildfires more quickly.

Rep. Darin LaHood, R-Ill., leaves the House Republican Conference meeting at the Capitol Hill Club in Washington on Tuesday, May 17, 2022.  (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

SHIELD FROM BEIJING: Rep. Darin LaHood, R-Ill., is introducing a new bill Thursday imploring the National Security Administration (NSA) to develop an “AI security playbook” to stay ahead of threats from China and other foreign adversaries. 

ROBOT RALLY PARTNER: Finding a reliable tennis partner who matches your energy and skill level can be a challenge. Now, with Tenniix, an artificial intelligence-powered tennis robot from T-Apex, players of all abilities have a new way to practice and improve. 

DIGITAL DANGER ZONE: Scam ads on Facebook have evolved beyond the days of misspelled headlines and sketchy product photos. Today, many are powered by artificial intelligence, fueled by deepfake technology and distributed at scale through Facebook’s own ad system. 

Fairfield, Ohio, USA – February 25, 2011 : Chipotle Mexican Grill Logo on brick building. Chipotle is a chain of fast casual restaurants in the United States and Canada that specialize in burritos and tacos. (iStock)

‘EXPONENTIAL RATE’: Artificial intelligence is helping Chipotle rapidly grow its footprint, according to CEO Scott Boatwright. 

AI TAKEOVER THREAT: The hottest topic nowadays revolves around Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its potential to rapidly and imminently transform the world we live in — economically, socially, politically and even defensively. Regardless of whether you believe that the technology will be able to develop superintelligence and lead a metamorphosis of everything, the possibility that may come to fruition is a catalyst for more far-leftist control.

Subscribe now to get the Fox News Artificial Intelligence Newsletter in your inbox.

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