National Rise In Ransomware Attacks Becoming ‘National Security Threat,’ Compromising Coloradans’ Personal Data – CBS Denver

(CBS4) – Nationwide, cyberattacks against major corporation are on the rise. Specifically, ransomware attacks are becoming the new type of breach, in which hackers take company computer systems hostage in exchange for big payouts, and CBS4 Investigates found these attacks are hitting people in the Centennial state.

Holly Parker, of Fruita, got a letter in the mail last fall, saying some of her personal information may have been compromised as a result of a ransomware attack. Cybercriminals had infiltrated Blackbaud, a company that stores data for hospitals and schools across the country.

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SCL Health’s hospitals in Colorado were just a few of those compromised. Holly and her family have been patients at SCL Health’s St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction for years.

“That’s one place that you don’t expect your stuff to be compromised by,” Parker said.

According to SCL Health, patient Social Security numbers were encrypted, so that data was protected, but names, birthdays, and addresses were compromised. For some other businesses Blackbaud serves, criminals were able to access social security numbers and financial information.

Blackbaud paid the ransom to the hackers, in exchange for assurance the data wouldn’t be exposed, which is something the FBI advises against, because there’s no guarantee the hackers will stay true to their word.

Now, a nationwide class action lawsuit has been filed against Blackbaud. At least one Colorado resident has joined, because her information was compromised when the attack hit a school she had attended in the past.

Parker says she’s considering joining, as well.

“I think they should be held accountable, because you’ve screwed around with credit, and people’s stuff,” Parker said.

The attack on Blackbaud is just one example in the rise of cyberattacks nationwide. A recent HIPAA Journal study found there was a 25% increase in health care data breaches in 2020.

These attacks aren’t just stealing personal information, they’re also infiltrating the crucial systems we rely on every day.

In May, the Colonial…