Tag Archive for: vow

NY lawmakers vow to tackle cyber hack attacks against hospitals, schools

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New York state lawmakers have promised to make helping local governments, schools and hospitals protect against cyber ransomware attacks a top priority during the 2023 legislative session.

It comes after a wave of such attacks hit institutions across the Empire State, with the computer systems of a major Brooklyn hospital network and those of the Suffolk County government disabled by hackers last year.

“This is a top item on my agenda for 2023,” said Steven Otis, chairman of the Assembly Science and Technology Committee.

“I am especially sensitive to local government and school districts being targets of ransomware attacks,” said Otis. “We have to get into prevent mode.”

A study just published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that the number of ransomware attacks against hospitals and other medical institutions more than doubled from 2016 to 2021 —  from 43 to 91 nationally, and that figure is likely under-reported.

Hospitals are among the top targets of hackers because of all the personal information they have stored about patients.

The computer database systems for Brooklyn One Health System containing private patient information and medical records were disabled by hackers last November. The hospital network — which includes Brookdale, Interfaith and Kingsbrook Jewish hospitals — was forced to go back to a manual system of pen and paper.

The hacking forced Interfaith Medical Center and other hospitals in the system to have to use a manual system for records.
The hacking forced Interfaith Medical Center and other hospitals in the system to have to use a manual system for records.
Paul Martinka

Hackers also breached a Suffolk County web server in a cyberattack on Sept. 8, 2022, demanding a $2.5 million ransom. An investigation found that the hackers had initially breached Suffolk’s database in December 2021, exploiting a flaw in the software and remaining there for nine months before posting a ransomware note demanding $2.5 million.

Even the Metropolitan Opera’s Box Office was hacked last month.

“Ransomware attacks and cyber hackers are the existential threat of our times,” said former state Sen. Diane Savino, who chaired the committee on Internet and technology and is now a senior adviser to New York…

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UK police vow to review any new phone hack evidence against Dubai ruler

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Issued on: Modified:

London (AFP)

British police on Tuesday promised to review any new evidence of phone hacking linked to Dubai’s billionaire ruler, after a London court said he had authorised the use of spyware against his ex-wife and her legal team.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum approved the use of Pegasus software against Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein during their bitter child custody battle in the British capital, the High Court said.

The developments are potentially damaging for the 72-year-old sheikh, who is also vice president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates, and Britain’s royal family.

Dubai is a key UK ally in the Gulf while Sheikh Mohammed, owner of the Godolphin stables, shares a passion for racehorses with Queen Elizabeth II and the pair have often been photographed together at meetings.

The High Court said he gave his “express or implied authority” for the phones of 47-year-old Princess Haya and others to be hacked with the software, which is only available to governments.

Judge Andrew McFarlane said the sheikh was “prepared to use the arm of the state to achieve what he regards as right”, noting the surveillance of at least six phones was attempted.

– ‘My texts are all visible’ –

London’s Metropolitan Police said specialist detectives launched an investigation last year into “multiple allegations of crime(s)”.

They included “unauthorised access and interception of digital devices and offences contrary to the Computer Misuse Act relating to six complainants”.

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Officers spent five months conducting “significant” inquiries and collaborating with law enforcement partners, but the probe was closed in February.

“All lines of inquiry were explored as far as possible,” the Met said, noting that at the time there were “no further investigative opportunities”.

“We will of course review any new information or evidence which comes to light in connection with these allegations,” it added.

Princess Haya’s lawyer Fiona Shackleton, a baroness and member of the upper chamber of parliament — the House of Lords — for the…

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