Hackers Demand $3.6M Ransom From Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center To Unlock Stolen Data
A cyberattack on the Los Angeles medical facility's computer system has blocked staff from email and electronic patient records for more than a week. The hospital is working with the Los Angeles police and FBI on the case.
The Atlantic:
A Hospital Paralyzed By Hackers
A hospital in Los Angeles has been operating without access to email or electronic health records for more than a week, after hackers took over its computer systems and demanded millions of dollars in ransom to return it. The hackers that broke into the Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center’s servers are asking for $3.6 million in Bitcoin, a local Fox News affiliate reported. Hospital staff are working with investigators from the Los Angeles Police Department and the FBI to find the intruders’ identities. (Waddell, 2/17)
BBC News:
Hollywood Hospital Held To Ransom By Hackers
Computer systems at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center have been offline for more than a week following a ransomware attack. According to local news sources, hackers were said to have demanded $3.4M to provide the codes to unlock the stolen data. The hospital has confirmed the attack took place, but has not commented on the ransom. (Lee, 2/15)
Tech Times:
Hackers Hold Hollywood Hospital’s Computer System Hostage, Demand $3.6 Million As Patients Transferred
Hackers have taken the computer system of the Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center hostage, demanding 9,000 Bitcoin or $3.6 million. The Southern California hospital is a victim of ransomware, and it has been down for over one week as it recovers from the attack. According to NBC, the damage has caused the hospital to be unable to continue day-to-day operations. To keep up activity at the medical center, the staff has turned to manual documentation using pen and paper to take down patient information and jammed fax lines and telephones to communicate from one department to another. (Lanaria, 2/16)