14 DAY TRIAL // Since its launch, several security issues have been identified in the main Obamacare website, HealthCare.gov. A Department of Homeland official has told members of the House Homeland Security Committee that the agency has received 16 reports regarding cyberattacks on the site.
According to ABC News, Assistant Secretary Roberta Stempfley noted that at least one of the attempts was a distributed denial-of-service (DDOS) attack, which she claims has failed to disrupt the website.
Stempfley hasn’t provided any details regarding the other attacks or if any of them caused any damage. Each of the incidents is being investigated by the DHS.
An unnamed DHS official has told ABC that the Homeland Security site recorded around 228,000 incidents last year. This means that the 16 attempts likely only represent documented ones, he noted.
McAfee experts agree that the Department of Health and Human Services has probably only reported significant attacks that could put sensitive information at risk.
Last week, security researchers identified a tool that was specifically designed to launch DOS attacks on HealthCare.gov.