In a significant breach of privacy, a hacker targeted Vastaamo, a Finnish psychotherapy service, compromising the sensitive data of approximately 33,000 patients in October 2020. The perpetrator demanded a ransom, initially requesting €200 in bitcoin, threatening to increase the amount to €500 if payment was not made within two days.
Meri-Tuuli Auer, one of the victims, received an email that included her full name and social security number, alongside details of her therapy sessions. The breach revealed personal information that Auer had disclosed to her therapist, including struggles with mental health and personal relationships. The incident escalated into a national crisis as it was described as Finland's largest-ever crime, prompting then-Prime Minister Sanna Marin to call an emergency meeting.
Despite the distressing nature of the hack, Auer found a sense of strength in her experience. Although the hacker leaked the stolen data on the dark web before the ransom was demanded, Auer's journey since the breach reflects her resilience in the face of overwhelming fear and vulnerability.