Genea, one of Australia’s big-three IVF providers, is investigating a cyberattack that could affect the data of thousands of families and expectant parents.
Genea, one of Australia’s big-three IVF providers, is investigating a cyberattack that could affect the data of thousands of families and expectant parents.
By Angus Thomson
February 19, 2025 — 3.06pm
One of Australia’s largest IVF providers is urgently investigating a cyberattack that may have exposed the data of thousands of families and expectant parents.
Genea chief executive Tim Yeoh told past and present patients on Wednesday that the company had taken some of its systems and servers offline after it identified suspicious activity on its network.
“We are urgently investigating the nature and extent of data that has been accessed and the extent to which it contains personal information,” Yeoh said.
Yeoh said the company was working hard to prevent disruption to treatment being provided to patients.
“If you do not hear from your local Genea clinic, there is no change to your current treatment schedule,” he said.
“We sincerely apologise for any concern this incident may cause you and want to reassure you that we take your privacy and the security of your data very seriously.”
The announcement came five days after Genea reported a phone outage at a number of its clinics. A notice on the company’s website indicated the outage was still an issue on Wednesday afternoon.
Genea, which runs 21 IVF clinics across Australia, has been contacted for comment.
Advertisement
The company came under fire in 2019 after patients were artificially inseminated with ineffective sperm costing thousands of dollars but offering no real chance of conception.
Last year, several families spoke out against the company on the ABC’s Four Corners program after their embryos became contaminated at Genea’s low-cost state-funded clinic at Sydney’s Royal Prince Alfred hospital.
More to come.
The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here.
Angus Thomson is a reporter covering health at the Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via Twitter or email.
Loading
Discover more from World Byte News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
