Hong Kong private hospital given 4 weeks to submit report over US$10 million ransomware attack
The Department of Health said on Saturday that it was investigating the incident at Union Hospital in Tai Wai, with its initial findings showing the ransomware attack had not compromised any patient data or medical services.
“Our initial understanding is that it did not involve [the release of] patients’ data nor did it affect the service security of the hospital,” it said. “The Department of Health has requested the hospital to hand in a detailed report in four weeks.”
Health authorities said they had also notified law enforcement agencies, including police and the city’s privacy commissioner.
Union Hospital revealed on Thursday that it had fallen prey to the ransomware attack on Monday morning, resulting in some “operational disruptions”.
“In response to the attack, the hospital has activated the emergency response system and stepped up cyber security measures to block further intrusion … Union Hospital condemns any form of cyberattack,” the hospital said.
“A team of cybersecurity experts has been appointed to conduct thorough system inspection and recovery in order to ensure medical service continuity.”
The hospital stressed that its staff had been vigilant over cybersecurity threats and ensured that all patient records were encrypted and password-protected.
“The leakage of patient data is unfounded as of now. An investigation into the attack is in progress,” it said.
Record 73% of Hong Kong companies hit by cyberattacks in past year: watchdog poll
Record 73% of Hong Kong companies hit by cyberattacks in past year: watchdog poll
Hackers reportedly used ransomware called “LockBit” to target the hospital and demand the US$10 million ransom, which the latter refused to pay.
Police said they received a report from a hospital employee on Monday over abnormalities in the hospital’s network system including some computer files going missing, but no personal data was involved.
Source…
Change Healthcare’s stolen ‘private’ patient data leaked by ransomware group
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What is a VPN? What virtual private networks do & who needs them | The Daily Courier
Fast Facts
A VPN can disguise your computer’s digital address, helping to keep you safer online.
VPNs allow users to avoid targeted ads and bypass regional content restrictions.
Free VPNs exist, but paid options may provide better privacy.
There are plenty of benefits to having a virtual private network (VPN), even if you’ve never heard of one. It’s an additional layer of encryption that helps hide some of your data from prying eyes.
Digital security has never been more important than it is in this modern era. Plus, if you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to watch Netflix on the other side of the world, a VPN can help you do that, too.
What is a VPN in simple terms?
VPN stands for a “virtual private network.” In a nutshell, it creates a third-party between you and the websites you want to access.
A well-chosen VPN essentially scrambles some of your data — including your geographic location — making it harder for third parties like internet service providers (ISPs) or websites to collect it.
VPNs can also help you get past website blocks and censorship. For those in the U.S., demand for these nifty little gadgets has started to creep upward as multiple states have enacted ID verification laws for users wishing to access adult entertainment.
Related: Popular adult film star explains why she thinks Utah’s new age verification law won’t work
How does a VPN work? Virtual private networks for beginners
Internet service providers have access to mountains of personal data, which is used to, among many other things, sell you personalized ads. Our internet data is stored by these providers, and hackers can gain access to that data. In some parts of the world, including U.S. states, some content is censored — a VPN can also help you clear those kinds of digital hurdles.
A VPN works to encrypt your data, basically scrambling it all up in such a way that makes it harder to trace. More technically, it masks what’s called your internet protocol (IP) address.
If the internet were the city you lived in, your IP address would be your computer’s home address. If you can see the benefit of getting a post office box, then you might want to consider a reputable VPN…