A Finnish woman, Meri-Tuuli Auer, 30, was one of the 33,000 Vastaamo patients who fell victim to a cyber-attack that left her therapy notes - and those of countless others - scattered online. The hacker had gained access to Vastaamo's patient database and published it on the dark web, threatening to release Auer's most intimate thoughts unless she paid €200 in bitcoin.
For weeks, the extortionist drip-fed therapy records onto the dark web, trying to put pressure on Vastaamo to pay a ransom of around £400,000. But instead of destroying her, the hack had an unexpected effect: it made Auer realise she was more resilient than she thought.
In a desperate bid to take back control of her story, Auer requested a hard copy of her records from Vastaamo and shared some with the BBC. The notes reveal that she had confided in her therapist about mental health issues, binge drinking, and a secret relationship.
Auer says the data breach has eroded patient trust, with many people now refusing to seek therapy again due to fear of their records being leaked online. In response, she decided to confront her fears head-on by sharing her story on social media, telling those close to her about the leaked records, and even publishing a book about her experiences.
For Auer, the experience has been a transformative one. "It was a lot easier for me to know that everyone who knew me already knew," she says. While it may be impossible to shield herself from online repercussions, she's learned to take back control of her narrative and turn her trauma into something positive.
Auer's story is just the tip of the iceberg in Finland, where nearly 33,000 Vastaamo patients were targeted by a faceless hacker who stole their therapy records. The hack has had devastating consequences for many, leading some to take their own lives after discovering that their darkest secrets had been exposed online.
Despite the trauma she's experienced, Auer is now determined to use her voice to raise awareness about mental health issues and the importance of patient confidentiality in the digital age.
For weeks, the extortionist drip-fed therapy records onto the dark web, trying to put pressure on Vastaamo to pay a ransom of around £400,000. But instead of destroying her, the hack had an unexpected effect: it made Auer realise she was more resilient than she thought.
In a desperate bid to take back control of her story, Auer requested a hard copy of her records from Vastaamo and shared some with the BBC. The notes reveal that she had confided in her therapist about mental health issues, binge drinking, and a secret relationship.
Auer says the data breach has eroded patient trust, with many people now refusing to seek therapy again due to fear of their records being leaked online. In response, she decided to confront her fears head-on by sharing her story on social media, telling those close to her about the leaked records, and even publishing a book about her experiences.
For Auer, the experience has been a transformative one. "It was a lot easier for me to know that everyone who knew me already knew," she says. While it may be impossible to shield herself from online repercussions, she's learned to take back control of her narrative and turn her trauma into something positive.
Auer's story is just the tip of the iceberg in Finland, where nearly 33,000 Vastaamo patients were targeted by a faceless hacker who stole their therapy records. The hack has had devastating consequences for many, leading some to take their own lives after discovering that their darkest secrets had been exposed online.
Despite the trauma she's experienced, Auer is now determined to use her voice to raise awareness about mental health issues and the importance of patient confidentiality in the digital age.
it's like someone broke into your most personal space and just left all your files out there for anyone to see... 33,000 people affected? That's crazy 
I can only imagine how Auer must've felt when her therapist notes went public... it's like she lost control of her own story. But at the same time, I gotta respect her decision to take back control and use this experience to spread awareness about mental health issues 
She's turned what could've been a nightmare into an opportunity to raise awareness about mental health issues and promote patient confidentiality in the digital age. I'm definitely rooting for her! 
That's just so messed up 
. But at the same time, I feel for her and all the other victims of this hack. The fact that some people are even considering taking their own lives because of this trauma is just heartbreaking 
. We need better systems in place to protect patient confidentiality online 
.
.
. But what really gets me is that she used this experience to take control of her narrative and turn it into something positive 
.
.
. And now Auer is using her voice to raise awareness, which is amazing 
Like, it's no wonder people are freaking out! 
. I'm all for people sharing their stories, but the idea that the hack was this transformative experience for her... I dunno, it's just a double-edged sword. On one hand, she's using her voice for good 
I think its wild how one bad thing can turn into something good. Meri-Tuuli's story is like a wake-up call for everyone - we gotta take care of our online security 
.
She went from being a victim of cyber-hacking to turning it into a positive experience by sharing her own story and using it as a platform for mental health awareness 
. The hackers might've won this round, but Auer's winning the award for most mental health awareness ever 
, can't let this kind of thing happen again 
sharing her story & all 
. It's crazy that some people would try to exploit that by threatening Auer with more info unless they pay up. But at the same time, I love that she chose to take back control of her story and turn it into something positive