ADA Issues Updates on Cybersecurity Incident

The American Dental Association (ADA) notified its members today that while an investigation is still ongoing, that there is no evidence that data from its membership database has been accessed by unauthorized entities. This announcement, sent via email by ADA President Cesar R. Sabates, DDS, comes on the heels of earlier reports stating the association was hacked on April 22.

A little more than 2 weeks ago the ADA reported it had recently fallen victim to a cybersecurity incident that had resulted in technical difficulties impacting certain systems. They added that they were working around the clock to restore their systems and limit the disruption this incident causes its members.

In today’s message from the ADA President titled “May 13 Cybersecurity Update,” Dr Sabates wrote:

“I’ve spoken before about how the ADA is our collective dental family—and how family members worry when they can’t reach anyone at ‘home.’ When the ADA recently fell victim to a cybersecurity event, it may have felt like the ADA went dark overnight. Please know that our number-one priority has been investigating this incident and working around the clock to get our operations back up as quickly as possible after rigorous testing and verification.”

Related Reading: Keeping Personal and Practice Data Safe in the Wake of the American Dental Association Hack

The statement also says safeguarding member information and data is the ADA’s utmost priority, and adds: “I want to reiterate that at this point in the investigation, there is no evidence that data from our membership database has been accessed by unauthorized entities. The investigation is still ongoing, and I will let you know when it is completed.”

The update also includes these highlights:

• MyADA: You can now log in to view member benefits, track order status, and make changes to your information, including updates to your Find-A-Dentist profile. Login at ADA.org/MyADA.
• Continuing Education: Hundreds of CE courses are available at ADACEonline.org to further your professional development, as is the CE Tracker in your MyADA profile to keep track of your hours.
• ADA Library & Archives: Full-text journals and ebooks, research databases, and evidence-based clinical tools are available at ADA.org/library, and specialized librarians can assist you with your research and information needs. Reach them at ADAlibraryandarchives@gmail.com.
• Member-Exclusive Content: Articles on ADA.org that require an ADA login are now accessible to members.
• ADA Catalog: The ADA Store and ADA Catalog are back online. You can place an order at ADAcatalog.org if you wish and track your order status in your MyADA account.
• Membership Application: Dentists looking to join or renew can now complete their applications online.
• National Board results: If you know your DENTPIN® and took your exam on or before April 30, 2022, you may log in to your account to see your results and the state boards you requested results to be sent to. If you do not have your DENTPIN, we are working on restoring access to be able to help you get that. Please email ADAtestserv@gmail.com with any additional questions about results.
• Automated Installment Plan Payments: If your dues are automatically debited from your account or charged to a credit card, you will see payments resume. Rest assured these charges are legitimate, and rest easy that the ADA does not keep credit card or bank account information on file.

In closing, today’s statement adds that “the ADA team is doing everything possible to investigate, to restore operations at the ADA, and to communicate to you, our valued ADA members. Please continue to send questions to questionsADA@gmail.com.”