Weekend Cybersecurity Roundup: Health, Retail, and Regulation Breaches Dominate Headlines
By Krista Lyons
If you thought cyber threats would slow down because of last week's AWS issue, you may need to grab some coffee before you read this.
This weekend’s headlines (October 24–27) revealed just how broad and interconnected today’s digital risks have become — from health insurance data exposure to retail customer leaks and regulatory crackdowns on major platforms.
Not sure if your network security would hold up against these attacks? Download the IT Admins' Guide to find out.
Blue Cross Blue Shield lawsuit highlights vendor risk
A new class-action lawsuit alleges Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana failed to disclose a data breach affecting up to 462,000 individuals. The breach reportedly stemmed from a third-party vendor, exposing names, Social Security numbers, and health information of nearly a third of all Montanans.
Why it matters:
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Third-party vendors remain a major cybersecurity weak point.
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Legal and regulatory pressure around breach transparency is rising fast.
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Health data is highly valuable for identity theft and fraud.
Our takeaway:
Ensure your vendors’ remote access is held to the same security standard as your internal network — especially when it comes to VPN, MFA, and logging — using features like App Hub.
Toys R Us Canada confirms data breach after dark web leak
Before we tell you about this story, we will answer the first question you might be thinking: Yes, Toys R Us still exists. In fact, it's been on somewhat of a comeback. Unfortunately, Toys R Us Canada has confirmed a customer data breach following the appearance of stolen information on the dark web. While full details remain unclear, the company warns customers to be alert for phishing attempts.
Why it matters:
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Retail and eCommerce platforms remain prime targets for attackers.
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Leaked credentials often fuel wider credential-stuffing and phishing campaigns.
Our takeaway:
For organizations — implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) and device posture checks for all remote employees and vendors. For consumers — use unique passwords and monitor accounts closely.
Wondering where to get started with stopping the flow of unlimited access to hackers?
EU finds TikTok and Meta in breach of transparency rules
The European Commission announced both TikTok and Meta violated parts of the Digital Services Act (DSA) — citing failures in transparency and researcher access to public data.
Why it matters:
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Regulatory scrutiny over data privacy and transparency is tightening.
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This signals a continued push for responsible data governance across global tech platforms.
Our takeaway:
Cybersecurity and compliance go hand-in-hand. VPNs and secure access solutions should support auditing, reporting, and policy enforcement to help meet governance obligations.
Ransomware surge targets critical infrastructure
The Qilin ransomware gang continues escalating attacks across manufacturing and critical infrastructure — exploiting remote-access and backup systems.
Why it matters:
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Remote-access channels remain a top attack vector.
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Backups and OT/ICS networks are increasingly under siege.
Our takeaway:
Implement network segmentation and least-privilege access for all remote users. Enforce MFA, monitor remote sessions, and isolate backup systems from main access paths.
Key takeaways
These stories serve as critical reminders that secure remote access is the foundation of modern cybersecurity resilience.
Here’s what to do this week:
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✅ Audit all third-party access routes into your network.
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✅ Enforce multi-factor authentication for every VPN user.
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✅ Segment access between IT, OT, and administrative systems.
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✅ Log and monitor all remote sessions for anomalies.
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✅ Align your policies with emerging transparency and compliance standards.
At OpenVPN, our mission is to make secure connectivity accessible, reliable, and resilient — no matter how fast the threat landscape evolves.
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