Insurers from AIG to MetLife asked for hacking safeguards

(Bloomberg) — American International Group Inc. and MetLife Inc. are among insurers asked by a New York regulator to show how they protect against computer attacks.

Insurers received letters requesting information on whether they have been targeted by hackers and how the companies safeguard customer information, the New York State Department of Financial Services said today in a statement. The regulator sent a similar request to banks this year.

“The extraordinarily sensitive health, personal and financial information that New Yorkers entrust to their insurance companies is a virtual treasure trove for hackers,” Governor Andrew Cuomo said in the statement.

DFS Superintendent Benjamin Lawsky says cybersecurity at insurers “often gets overlooked.”

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