
Latest news reported that a ransomware infection attacked Hollywood Hospital.
Latest news reported that a ransomware infection attacked Hollywood Hospital. Last week, the Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center fell victim to hackers exposing the digital threats that health care faces. It was reported that hackers infected computers with ransomware.
Ransomware is known as a malware that cryptographically locks devices. The criminals demanded $3, 65 million to unlock the infected devices. The hacks demanded the sum in bitcoins, making it easier for them to collect the money without being detected. It was estimated that Hollywood Presbyterian is the fourth hospital this year to be infected with such a virus.
There weren’t any patient injuries or deaths related to cyberattacks. However, digital security in hospitals and in medical devices has become a great concern in the industry. Ransomware attacks have long been a threat for Internet users.
Those responsible for such attacks are generally holding up individuals and businesses. The recent event at Hollywood Presbyterian shows the risk is real in the medical field as well. To help get over the crisis, the hospital members have now shifted to manual mode of working and using fax machines and landline telephones to get their work done. FBI is now investigating the case in collaboration with LAPD and other agencies.
The hospital didn’t respond to a request for comment. So far Hollywood Presbyterian hasn’t mentioned how far the attack has spread. They also refused to comment on the type of the ransomware or how their computers were infected. Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center is not the first body to be hacked by a malware.
Earlier this month a Mississippi school had its systems taken down. Local police departments in the U.S. have also been infected with the virus. Last year, police organs in Massachusetts and Maine ended up paying almost $500 to have their systems freed. The ransomware attacks have turned out to be a blockbuster.
Security company, Bromium, declared the attack rate doubled in 2015. According to a group of companies at Cyber Threat Alliance, in 2015 Cryptoblocker 3.0, a ransomware pack, bought in approximately $325 million. The Ransomware infection which attacked Hollywood hospital will give specialists more insight on how they can find strategies to avoid such dangerous situations.
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