A computer attack on the Ascensão private health system in the US diverted ambulances from its services, caused patients to miss appointments and blocked online access to its records.
An Ascensão spokesman said it found “infrequent activity” on its computer network Wednesday and that both its electronic records system and the MyChart system, which gives patients access to their records and allows them to contact their doctors, were down. .
The St. Louis-based, Catholic-inspired health system has 140 hospitals and nearly 25,000 beds in 19 states and the District of Columbia.
In a statement, an Ascensan spokesman said ambulances had been diverted from “several” hospitals, without giving their names.
The spokesperson is quoted as saying, “We have determined that this is a computer security incident,” adding that “the investigation and recovery efforts will take time and there is no end in sight.”
Computer security experts have noted a significant increase in computer ransom attacks in recent years, especially in the healthcare sector.
Groups of these criminals are increasingly stealing information before activating programs that paralyze computer networks. The threat of revealing stolen information is used to extort payments. Related information may also be sold.
Earlier this year, a cyberattack on Change Healthcare disrupted healthcare systems across the country after hackers breached a server that lacked multi-factor authentication, a basic form of security.
Change Healthcare, owned by UnitedHealth Group Inc., provides technology used by physicians and other health care providers to file and process millions of insurance claims each year.
The attack delayed insurer payments and increased pressure on doctors’ practices across the country.
UnitedHealth CEO Andrew Whitty told US Congress earlier this month that he had paid a $22 million ransom in bitcoin, but the company’s core systems were still not fully functional.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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