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UK healthcare giant HCRG confirms hack after ransomware gang claims theft of sensitive data
The United Kingdom’s HCRG Care Group has officially confirmed a cybersecurity incident following allegations by a notorious ransomware gang, Medusa, that they have breached the company’s systems to steal sensitive information.
As a major provider of community health and care services in the UK, HCRG works closely with various healthcare organizations and government agencies. According to reports, the attackers claim to have stolen over two terabytes of data from the company.
Although HCRG has not disclosed specifics on what types of data were compromised, it did admit that an IT security incident was identified and is currently being investigated. The organization also failed to confirm how many individuals may be affected by the breach.
With more than 5,000 employees and serving over half a million patients across the UK, HCRG’s potential exposure poses significant concerns for patient privacy and data protection.
In its official statement, the company assured that no suspicious activity has been observed since implementing containment measures. They are working with external forensic specialists to investigate the incident and have notified relevant authorities, including the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office.
Ransomware gang Medusa is demanding a hefty sum of $2 million for not publicly releasing the stolen data. HCRG’s response did not confirm or deny the ransom demand but emphasized that their services are continuing to operate normally and patients should continue with their scheduled appointments without concern.
This incident highlights the need for robust cybersecurity measures in the healthcare industry, where sensitive information is paramount to patient care and trust.
Source: techcrunch.com
