Ransomware attack on health giant Ascension hits 5.6 million patients


A May ransomware attack on Ascension, a U.S. healthcare giant with more than 140 hospitals and dozens of senior living facilities, allowed hackers to steal personal and sensitive health information on 5.6 million patients, according to a new filing with Maine’s attorney general.

The cyberattack caused widespread disruption across its hospital system, with some staff describing harrowing lapses in healthcare as a result, including delayed or lost lab results, and medication errors. The Black Basta gang was blamed for the attack, which saw the group steal patients’ medical information, like dates of service, lab tests, and procedure codes; payment information, such as credit card and bank account numbers.

Read more…
Source: TechCrunch News


Sign up for our Newsletter


Related:

  • US imposes fresh sanctions over Iranian arms, cyber activity

    February 2, 2024

    The United States on Friday imposed sanctions targeting Iran’s ballistic missile and drone procurement programmes as well as officials it said were involved in hacking US infrastructure, as Washington looks to increase pressure on Tehran. The US Treasury Department said in a statement on Friday it had imposed sanctions on four Iran- and Hong Kong-based companies ...

  • Former CIA employee sentenced to 40 years in prison after carrying out largest data leak in agency’s history

    February 1, 2024

    A former CIA employee was sentenced to 40 years in prison after carrying out the largest data leak in the agency’s history, the US Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of New York announced Thursday. Joshua Schulte – who was accused of handing over reams of classified data to WikiLeaks in 2016 – was convicted in ...

  • Series of cyber attacks risks sensitive data at New Jersey schools, hospitals

    January 30, 2024

    Class was canceled Monday across the Freehold Township school district, but not for the familiar January troubles of slushy roads, frozen pipes or a busted boiler. No, this was “a cybersecurity event” that ground school business to a halt. District officials disclosed little about what happened, assuring parents in an email they “retained outside IT expert consultants ...

  • The NSA buys Americans’ internet data, newly released documents show

    January 26, 2024

    The National Security Agency has been buying Americans’ web browsing data from commercial data brokers without warrants, intelligence officials disclosed in documents made public by a US senator Thursday. The purchases include information about the websites Americans visit and the apps that they use, said Oregon Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden, releasing newly unclassified letters he received ...

  • Kansas City Area Transit Authority hit by ransom cyber-attack, affecting communications

    January 26, 2024

    The Kansas City Area Transit Authority announced this week that is was hit by a ransom cyber-attack. The incident was reported on Tuesday, Jan. 23. KCATA said all service is operating, including fixed-route buss, Freedom and Freedom-On-Demand paratransit service. KCATA said at this time regional RideKC call centers can’t receive calls or can any KCATA landline. Read ...

  • HP Enterprise was hacked by the same Russian state-sponsored group that targeted Microsoft

    January 25, 2024

    HP Enterprise was infiltrated by a hacking group linked to Russian intelligence last year, the business IT company has revealed in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing. The threat actor is believed to be Midnight Blizzard, also known as Cozy Bear, which was the same group that recently breached the email accounts of several senior executives ...