UnitedHealth Tech Unit Hack Affected 192.7 Million People

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A cyberattack on UnitedHealth Group’s (UNH.N) technology unit, Change Healthcare, last year affected 192.7 million people, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The company had previously estimated the breach impacted 190 million individuals.

Disclosed in February 2024, the attack—identified as the largest healthcare data breach in U.S. history—was carried out by hackers claiming to be part of the “Blackcat” ransomware group. The breach caused widespread disruptions in claims processing and affected patients and healthcare providers nationwide.

A UnitedHealth spokesperson confirmed, “The final total number of individuals impacted by the Change Healthcare cyberattack is approximately 192.7 million,” noting that state-by-state figures may vary.

Compromised data is believed to include health insurance member IDs, patient diagnoses, treatment records, social security numbers, and provider billing codes. The breach is now listed in HHS’s official database of healthcare data breaches maintained by its Office for Civil Rights.

WhatsApp Accuses Russia of Restricting Secure Communication

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WhatsApp has accused Moscow of attempting to block millions of Russians from accessing secure communication after calls on the messaging app were restricted. The move comes as Russia promotes home-grown social media platforms and seeks tighter control over the country’s internet.

On Wednesday, Russia said it had started limiting some WhatsApp and Telegram calls, alleging that the foreign-owned platforms failed to share information with law enforcement in fraud and terrorism cases. Text messaging and voice notes remain unaffected.

“WhatsApp is private, end-to-end encrypted, and defies government attempts to violate people’s right to secure communication, which is why Russia is trying to block it from over 100 million Russian people,” the company said, pledging to maintain encrypted services in Russia.

The restrictions follow a broader pattern of Russia clashing with foreign tech firms since its February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Meta’s Facebook and Instagram were blocked, YouTube speeds slowed, and numerous fines were issued to platforms that did not comply with Russian content and data regulations.

In July 2025, WhatsApp had a monthly reach of 97.3 million users in Russia, compared with 90.8 million for Telegram and 17.9 million for VK Messenger, a state-backed app. Russia’s population exceeds 140 million. Reports from online monitoring services and local media indicated connectivity issues in regions like Krasnodar, affecting services such as online maps.

The restrictions coincide with the promotion of a state-controlled messaging app, MAX, which is being integrated with government services. Critics warn that MAX could track user activity. Senior politicians are actively migrating to the app, encouraging followers to join.

“Ultimately, they want to control users and the information they receive,” said Mikhail Klimarev, director of the Internet Protection Society, a Russian digital rights group. He added that MAX may struggle to handle a large influx of users and that social resistance to forced migration is likely.

Human Rights Watch highlighted that Russia has been “meticulously expanding [its] legal and technological tools to carve out Russia’s section of the internet into a tightly controlled and isolated forum.” A new law approved by lawmakers further tightens censorship, penalizing citizens for searching online content deemed “extremist,” including through VPNs used to bypass internet blocks.

Foxconn Sees AI Driving Growth as Q2 Profit Exceeds Forecast

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Foxconn (2317.TW), the world’s largest iPhone assembler, reported second-quarter net profit of T$44.4 billion ($1.48 billion), surpassing the consensus estimate of T$38.8 billion, as strong demand for AI servers helped offset slower growth in smart electronics. The company on Thursday forecast a significant rise in third-quarter revenue, with AI server sales expected to jump more than 170% year-on-year.

Cloud and networking products, including servers, accounted for 41% of Q2 revenue, while smart consumer electronics contributed 35%. CEO Kathy Yang said, “AI has been the primary growth driver so far this year,” but cautioned that “close attention is needed due to the impact of changes in tariffs and exchange rates.”

Foxconn is increasing capital spending by more than 20% in 2025 to expand server production capacity at its facilities in Texas and Wisconsin. The company’s AI business benefits from rising demand as cloud computing giants such as Amazon (AMZN.O), Microsoft (MSFT.O), and Google (GOOGL.O) expand AI infrastructure.

Geopolitical uncertainty remains a risk, particularly from U.S.-China trade tensions, although a 90-day tariff truce has been extended. While most iPhones for Apple (AAPL.O) are assembled in China, production for the U.S. market has shifted mainly to India. Foxconn is also building factories in Mexico and Texas to manufacture AI servers for Nvidia (NVDA.O).

In its electric vehicle (EV) operations, Foxconn sold its former Lordstown, Ohio, factory for $375 million but will continue to occupy the site to produce cloud-related products. Initial production of its Model C EV for the U.S. market will take place in Taiwan.

Foxconn shares have risen 8.4% year-to-date, outperforming the broader Taiwan index (.TWII), which gained 5.2%, and closed up 0.5% on Thursday ahead of the earnings release.