Windows Ransomware Attack Hit Midlands Regional Hospital in Tullamore

A Tullamore hospital, i.e. Midlands Regional Hospital, has been working for restoring its systems after suffering from a windows ransomware attack. Tullamore is a county town of the County Offaly, in midlands of Ireland.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has revealed that the IT systems of Midlands Regional Hospital got hit by ransomware attack. In a statement on the evening of November 15, 2018, the Health Service Executive confirmed that LIS (Laboratory Information System) and associated infrastructure of the Midlands Regional Hospital suffered a ransomware attack on November 14, 2018 (i.e. on Wednesday).

Ransomware is one kind of malicious software (i.e. a malware), which has been designed for blocking access to computer system until the ransom money is paid. Ransomware attacks normally occur when the malicious files or links are sent by email and an individual clicks on it. Once the malicious software is loaded on that individual's computer system, the computer got locked down and prevents the individual from accessing its system. Then, the attackers demand ransom money for unlocking the computer system or for restoring the files.

The Midlands Regional Hospital was assured that no evidence is there which proves that it went any further. The Health Service Executive said that "the hospital has been assured that this is an isolated incident and there is no evidence of contagion in the wider health service beyond the initial attack".

"The hospital has been working in conjunction with the HSE Office of the Chief Information Officer to restore the system and re-instate a functional Laboratory Information System within a re-configured secure HSE environment," it added.

Noreen Hynes, General Manager, says that the work is going on to make sure that no patient information has been stolen. A spokeswoman of the hospital said that there was no impact on the patient care, and the business continuity plans has been in operation until full system got restored.

The Health Service Executive added that, as a precautionary measure, Data Protection Commission was notified about this incident. The HSE says that extent of it is not determined yet and the work is going on to provide assurances, whereas Data Protection Commission says that it was having very little information about the investigation.

» SPAMfighter News - 11/27/2018