A ransomware group operating under the name SafePay has posted a claim stating it obtained data from Palmetto Eye Institute, with the listing dated September 8, 2026. This assertion originates solely from the group’s own leak-site entry, which is being tracked by ransomware.live, a security research platform that monitors ransomware groups’ public leak sites. At this stage, the claim has not been verified by Palmetto Eye Institute, by any regulatory body, or by independent security researchers, and it should be treated as an allegation rather than a confirmed security event.
What SafePay’s listing does and doesn’t tell us
- The claimed posting date on SafePay’s leak site is September 8, 2026.
- Palmetto Eye Institute operates in the healthcare sector, providing eye care and vision-related services.
- SafePay has not disclosed, and no outside party has confirmed, which categories of data may have allegedly been accessed.
- No statement from Palmetto Eye Institute regarding this claim is currently available.
- There is no public confirmation from a data protection authority or health regulator connected to this listing at this time.
Precautions worth taking while this claim remains unconfirmed
- Update passwords for any accounts tied to Palmetto Eye Institute or associated patient portals, especially if credentials are reused elsewhere.
- Turn on two-factor authentication wherever it’s offered, including for email, banking, and healthcare-related logins.
- Be cautious of unexpected emails, texts, or calls referencing appointments, billing, or medical records — these can be phishing attempts riding on breach headlines.
- Review recent financial and insurance statements for unfamiliar activity, and report anything suspicious right away.
- Consider a service like a service like Aura or LifeLock for ongoing identity monitoring, which can help flag misuse of personal information before it escalates.
- Keep records of any correspondence from the company should this incident later be formally acknowledged.
BreachLetter will revisit and update this article if Palmetto Eye Institute issues a statement, confirms an incident, or if the matter is reported to relevant regulators.