Tag Archive for: michigan

Hello, Ann Arbor: Behind the University of Michigan computer hack; legislator fights steep rents


The school year started with an internet blackout for University of Michigan students.

And now we know a little more about why.

A third party hacked into the school’s computer system, prompting university officials to shut it down on Aug. 27, Sam Dodge recently reported.

An investigation into the hack revealed an unauthorized individual was able to access certain university systems from Aug. 23-27. The hacker had access to Social Security numbers, driver’s licenses or other government-issued identification numbers, financial account of payment card numbers and/or health information.

The university is continuing efforts to make the network more secure, according to the story.

Meanwhile, steep rents continue to cause a headache. They’ve even prompted a lawmaker who rents in the city to speak out.

State Rep. Carrie Rheingans, D-Ann Arbor, recently received an email notice from her landlord stating that her rent will increase by $6,000 per year, according to Ryan Stanton’s story. And if she doesn’t act soon, that price could go up.

The lawmaker introduced a bill into the Michigan Legislature on Sept. 7 that would repeal Michigan’s 1988 ban on rent control, restoring the ability of communities to enact local rent regulations.

Read more about those stories and others below.

Third-party gained access to University of Michigan systems, leading to August internet outage

Michigan lawmaker faces $6,000 rent hike after introducing rent control bill

Detroit-area hairstylist identified as woman killed in Washtenaw County crash

Court dismisses lawsuit declaring Ypsilanti-area nonprofit a public nuisance

Michigan’s Best Local Eats: Simple ingredients help Bao Space create authentic Asian cuisine

Ann Arbor voices opposition to widening U.S. 23 highway

Ypsilanti loses ‘fighter for good’ with death of attorney and former NAACP leader

What’s that? Developers pitch project for empty lot near Ann Arbor-area Lowe’s

New 80-unit project proposed for undeveloped portion of condo community near Ann Arbor

Trick-or-treat times for Halloween 2023 in Washtenaw County

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University of Michigan says hackers gained personal information of individuals in cyberattack


CBS News Detroit Digital Brief for Oct. 23, 2023


CBS News Detroit Digital Brief for Oct. 23, 2023

03:03

(CBS DETROIT) – The University of Michigan said on Monday that hackers were able to get the personal information during a cyberattack back in August.

University officials say an investigation launched an investigation and learned of suspicious activity on the computer network. 

The investigation revealed that an “authorized third party was able to access personal information relating to certain students and applicants, alumni and donors, employees and contractors, University Health Service and School of Dentistry patients, and research study participants,” the university said.

The information included social security numbers, driver’s licenses or other government-issued identification numbers, financial account or payment card numbers, and health information. The university determined that the hacker gained access between Aug. 23-27.

In response to the suspicious activity, officials disconnected the campus network on Aug. 27 for its Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and Flint campuses. At that time, University President Santa Ono said it was investigating a “security issue.” The internet was restored on Aug. 30.

The university says in addition to the investigation, it is also “continuing to work with third-party cybersecurity experts to take steps to harden our systems and emerge from this incident as a more secure community.”

U of M sent letters on Monday to all individuals whose information was involved. The university is offering free credit monitoring services to those individuals.

The university also launched a call center to address the incident. Anyone who believes their information was involved and does not receive a letter can call the toll-free number at 888-998-7088 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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Third-party gained access to University of Michigan systems, leading to August internet outage


ANN ARBOR, MI – A third-party source infiltrated University of Michigan computer systems, which led to officials shutting down university internet during the outage at the start of the fall semester, officials said.

The university first detected suspicious activity on its campus computer network on Aug. 23, according to university spokeswoman Kim Broekhuizen. The university’s Information Assurance team, which fights cybersecurity threats and malicious actors, shut down the system the afternoon of Aug. 27.

An investigation was launched into the hack, and with the help of third-party experts, it was determined that an unauthorized individual was able to access certain university systems from Aug. 23-27, officials said.

“Based on this data analysis, we believe that the unauthorized third party was able to access personal information relating to certain students and applicants, alumni and donors, employees and contractors, University Health Service and School of Dentistry patients, and research study participants,” Broekhuizen wrote in an email to MLive/The Ann Arbor News.

The university has determined that students, applicants, alumni, donors, employees and contractors have had the following information accessed: Social Security numbers, driver’s license or other government-issued identification numbers, financial account of payment card numbers and/or health information, officials said.

Research study participants through the University Health Service and School of Dentistry have had the same information accessed, plus any information related to participation in certain research studies, officials said.

In addition to disconnecting the campus network from internet, the university notified law enforcement and is working with outside cybersecurity experts to make its network more secure, officials said.

Letters were sent on Monday, Oct. 23 to all university individuals affected, officials said. People with sensitive information from this incident are being offered a credit monitoring service free of charge from the university, officials said.

Credit reports can be accessed in the following ways:

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Large Michigan healthcare provider confirms ransomware attack


One of the largest healthcare systems in Michigan confirmed that it is dealing with a ransomware attack after a notorious hacker gang boasted about the incident.

A spokesperson for McLaren HealthCare said the organization recently detected suspicious activity on its computer network and immediately began an investigation.

“Based on our investigation, we have determined that we experienced a ransomware event. We are investigating reports that some of our data may be available on the dark web and will notify individuals whose information was impacted, if any, as soon as possible,” a spokesperson said.

McLaren operates 13 hospitals across Michigan, as well as other medical services such as infusion centers, cancer centers, primary and specialty care offices and a clinical laboratory network. The company has more than 28,000 employees and also has a wholly owned medical malpractice insurance company.

Earlier this month, the company reported outages affecting billing and electronic health record systems. According to the Detroit Free Press, McLaren had to shut down the computer network at 14 different facilities — a situation that got so bad that employees had to communicate through their personal phones.

The spokesperson said McLaren has “retained leading global cybersecurity specialists to assist in our investigation, and we have been in touch with law enforcement. We have also taken measures to further strengthen our cybersecurity posture with a focus on securing our systems and limiting disruption to our patients and the communities we serve.”

The spokesperson added that systems “remain operational” but did not respond to requests for comment about whether billing and record systems had been restored to functionality. They did not say whether a ransom would be paid.

The Black Cat/AlphV ransomware gang took credit for the attack in a post on its leak site early on Friday morning.

The gang — which initially did not name the company before hours later adding McLaren’s name — claimed to have stolen 6 TB of data, allegedly including the personal data of millions as well as videos of the hospitals’ work.

mclaren-healthcare-michigan-map.pngImage: McLaren HealthCare

Michigan’s Emergency Management…

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