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UnitedHealth Group, a longtime healthcare powerhouse, just took a brutal hit, missing earnings expectations and slashing its 2025 outlook. The company’s stock dropped rapidly Thursday morning, April 17, and it wasn’t just a blip — this was a full-on market reaction to what many are now calling a crisis moment. At the center of it all? A shaky Medicare business, a leadership shakeup, and the long shadow of a massive cyberattack. For years, UnitedHealth was considered untouchable on Wall Street. But now, the once-steady giant is showing signs of severe strain. Medicare Misfire Rattles Confidence In The Insurance Giant Investors didn’t just flinch — they ran. According to The Wall Street Journal, UnitedHealth stock tumbled about 18% in early trading, pulling other major healthcare players like Humana and CVS Health down. What happened? The company’s Medicare Advantage division, which manages benefits for older and disabled Americans, faces deeper issues than previously disclosed....
Dr. Christine Izuakor is making it easier for people in technology to forge meaningful connections. The Houston, TX, native is a cybersecurity professional with over a decade of experience leading cybersecurity functions at Fortune 100 companies. Her career journey could have looked very different had she pursued the medical field, a path favored by her Nigerian parents. However, she “failed miserably” in her attempt to become an eye doctor. Her pivot came after taking a course on encryption, which sparked her interest in cybersecurity. “I immediately switched my major and went on to earn a Ph.D. in security engineering. From there, I spent about 10 years leading different security functions at United Airlines, was a graduate cybersecurity professor, and so that’s what really kind of got me into this space and then allowed me to grow,” she told AFROTECH™ in an interview. Cyber Pop-up Today, Izuakor works part-time as an adjunct professor in cybersecurity at various schools and...
The rhythm of ambition often starts quietly—a hum of potential that builds into a bold symphony. For IntusCare, the journey began in the halls of Brown University, where co-founders Evan Jackson and Robbie Felton turned their vision for eldercare into reality, with Stevie Wonder’s song “Sir Duke,” setting the tone for their path forward. Much like a timeless Stevie Wonder groove that lingers long after the music fades, IntusCare’s journey from pitch competitions to industry innovation has been driven by harmony, persistence, and an unwavering belief in its mission. Rooted In Mission: A Personal Commitment To Equitable Care Founded five years ago, IntusCare set out to disrupt the healthcare status quo and deliver high-quality care to low-income older adults — a population often left behind by systemic inequities. Their mission is deeply anchored in serving diverse, marginalized communities, including Black, Latino, and Asian American populations, who have historically faced...
UnitedHealth Group, one of the biggest players in U.S. healthcare, recently disclosed a significant cyberattack that compromised the personal data of nearly half the American population. The breach has left many questioning the security of sensitive health information in an increasingly digitized industry. To add to the complexity, the company has undergone a significant leadership transition, appointing Tim Noel as its new CEO during one of the most turbulent periods in UnitedHealth’s history. With millions of Americans watching, this moment could define the company’s legacy. How The UnitedHealth Cyberattack Exposed Sensitive Data Of Millions The cyberattack, as reported by The Detroit News, compromised sensitive information, including personal health records and financial data, affecting nearly 50% of the U.S. population. Cybersecurity experts have long flagged healthcare as a prime target for attacks due to the value of its data and the sector’s lagging security measures....
Addressing the talent gap is essential to mitigating cybersecurity risks effectively. The United States has seen a wave of cybersecurity attacks over the years. In 2024, The Guardian reported that Volt Typhoon, a Chinese hacking group, infiltrated the networks of critical infrastructure organizations, including aviation, rail, mass transit, highways, maritime, pipelines, water, and sewage systems. U.S. intelligence revealed that the group had maintained access to some victim IT environments for over five years. Among the high-profile incidents, MGM Resorts faced a staggering $100 million loss. They were hit with cybersecurity attacks, leading them to shut down their systems in September 2023 “to mitigate risk to customer information,” according to NBC News. This meant workers could not access company emails, slot machines were inaccessible, and some customers could no longer enter their hotel rooms. Despite these measures, the hackers were still able to retrieve sensitive...
With less than 30 days to go, AFROTECH™ Conference 2024 is fast approaching, and attendees need to prepare now to make the most of this transformative experience. Scheduled for Nov. 13-16 in Houston, TX, this year’s event promises a powerful lineup of speakers, sessions, and networking opportunities designed to help professionals thrive in tech and business. 2024’s conference is next level, featuring industry heavyweights like Google’s Matthew Robinson, who’s bringing the heat with his session, “Creative Summit: Diverse Design: User-Centric Innovation,” and Charlotte Burrows, Chair of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, dropping knowledge in “AI: The New Civil Rights Frontier.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by AFROTECH™ Conference (@afrotech.conference) But that’s just the beginning. You don’t want to miss game-changing sessions like “The Future of FinTech: Revolutionizing Financial Inclusion,” “The Power of Data: How Analytics Is Transforming...
Conference season is upon us, and AFROTECH™ is gearing up for an unforgettable experience, offering intentional opportunities to learn, grow, and develop. Billed as “The Global Gathering for Innovators and Inclusive Tech Companies,” the 2024 AFROTECH™ Conference will take place in Houston, TX, from Nov. 13-16, and this year is expected to be bigger and better. View this post on Instagram A post shared by AFROTECH™ Conference (@afrotech.conference) The main stage will be the epicenter of this year’s gathering, with heavy-hitting speakers and discussions designed to ensure ticket holders have a top tier experience. In addition to the coveted main stage, the AFROTECH™ Conference has added a few new options in the Cybersecurity, AI, and Data and Engineering stages. The Women’s Summit will also be returning with some new additions in the Founder’s Summit, Health & Environmental Equity Summit, and Creative & Design Summit. This year’s speaker lineup is truly exceptional, featuring top...
Millions are being impacted by an ongoing global tech outage. What Happened CNBC reports CrowdStrike, “the world’s most advanced cloud-native platform,” triggered a Microsoft operating system issue Friday, July 19, when it sent an update, causing a global outage that disrupted airlines, businesses, global banks, and emergency services. CrowdStrike Response At the time of this writing, the outage is reportedly not believed to be the result of a security incident or cyberattack, according to CrowdStrike President and CEO George Kurtz. “CrowdStrike is actively working with customers impacted by a defect found in a single content update for Windows hosts. Mac and Linux hosts are not impacted,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “This is not a security incident or cyberattack. The issue has been identified, isolated and a fix has been deployed. We refer customers to the support portal for the latest updates and will continue to provide complete and continuous updates on our website. We...
On Sept. 3, 2021, Howard University experienced a cyberattack that has now brought more attention to an issue that has been overlooked. According to the initial report about the cyberattack, Howard reported the breach to both the FBI and the Washington, D.C. city government about the attack and said that they put in initial safeguards to prevent future attacks. “On September 3, 2021, the Howard University information technology team detected unusual activity on the University’s network. In accordance with our cyber response protocol, and to mitigate the potential for criminal activity, Enterprise Technology Services (ETS) intentionally shut down the University’s network to investigate the situation,” read a press release issued by Howard University. Thankfully, Black billionaire Robert F. Smith, considered the wealthiest Black man in America, has announced his latest Student Freedom Initiative (SFI) tour in an effort to provide more cybersecurity to Historically Black Colleges and...
Do you remember the time when working from home was considered a luxury? Now, workers across the world have transitioned to working remotely due to the unprecedented impact of COVID-19. Remote work has become a necessity in today’s world. However, the sudden transition to remote work has left many gaps in security strategies and protocols. More companies are considering making the transition to remote work long-term, but this will require making changes to the security protocols and strategies to ensure protection against identity theft, data breaches, and other cyberattacks. What security measures does your business have in place to ensure your remote workers are protected? Tip #1: Invest in the right antivirus software One of the most effective resources available to your business is antivirus software . A cyber attack can result in significant financial and reputational damage to a business. There is a strong chance the numbers will rise as more cyber criminals look to obtain...
At just 22-years-old, this hacker became an accidental digital security hero that saved the world from the worst cyberattack it has ever seen. Marcus Hutchins, a British computer security researcher, discovered the WannaCry ransomware attack in 2017 and used a “kill switch” to stop the escalating attack, which at the time was spreading around the globe, according to The Verge . The U.K. media revealed him to be the person responsible for halting the ransomware contagion, but soon after his reputation as a hero was tainted by accusations of Hutchins making and selling the Kronos banking malware, Tech Crunch reports . He was later arrested by the FBI, according to Wired , as a result of his teenage work on a code that was later used in banking trojan software. So much time had passed since the news broke of his astronomical effort that when Hutchins was approached by the authorities he assumed that they wanted to know more about his work on WannaCry. During his interrogation, Hutchins...
Last month, Pensacola, FL became the latest of several cities to become a victim of a cyberattack. The city was attacked by ransomware, which holds vital or secure information “hostage” until payment is made to the attackers. Nonpayment has the potential to result in the leaking of secure data and the complete disruption of operations. The ransomware affected Pensacola’s 311 customer phone helpline, sanitation department, online payment portals, and other online systems, prompting a city shutdown. Maze — a group of hackers that made similar targeted cyberattacks on other entities — has claimed responsibility for the incident. The group is demanding $1 million in ransom from Pensacola officials. The Pensacola cyberattack is just one of several attacks on U.S. cities. Key cities Atlanta and Baltimore were attacked within the past two years, and three additional cities across the U.S. fell victim to cyberattacks within the last month. While Pensacola’s population of approximately...
Over the past month, Baltimore has faced repeated cyber attacks that have shut down the city’s email and systems allowing residents to pay water bills, purchase homes, and more . Now, a report by The New York Times has revealed that the malware used to attack Baltimore was created by the National Security Agency (N.S.A.). Security experts told the New York Times that attackers were using a tool called EternalBlue. Essentially, EternalBlue works by targeting a vulnerability in some versions of Microsoft’s Windows XP and Vista systems, The Verge reported . This lets external parties use remote commands on their targets. In 2017, the N.S.A. lost control of EternalBlue after it was leaked by a hacking group called ShadowBrokers . The tool has been used around the world, including in attacks against Ukrainian banks and infrastructure in June 2017. Baltimore was originally attacked on May 7. City workers found that their screens were suddenly locked. The hackers demanded almost $100,000...
Microsoft announced it is increasing its cybersecurity for think tanks in the U.S. and abroad, ahead of the European Parliament elections. The company said that it has detected attacks against employees of the German Council on Foreign Relations, The Aspen Institutes in Europe, and The German Marshall Fund through its Threat Intelligence Center and Digital Crimes Unit. “We believe the work of organizations like The German Marshall Fund and its Alliance for Securing Democracy are an essential part of efforts to secure democracies against those who seek to undermine it,” Microsoft Customer Security & Trust Vice President Tom Burt said in a blog post . “Many organizations essential to democracy do not have the resources or expertise to defend themselves against cyberattacks.” The cyber attack targeted more than 100 accounts across Europe between September and December 2018. Microsoft said its ongoing investigation leads it to believe that Strontium, a Russian-linked hacker group,...