news 
Ransomware attack on health giant Ascension hits 5.6 million patients
A recent ransomware attack on the US healthcare giant Ascension has resulted in a massive data breach, exposing sensitive information of over 5.6 million patients. The attack, which occurred in May, allowed hackers to steal personal and medical records, including payment information, patient names, addresses, dates of birth, lab test results, medication lists, and more.
The cyberattack was carried out by the Black Basta gang, who gained access to Ascension’s systems and stole a wide range of data. The stolen information includes dates of service, lab tests, procedure codes, payment information such as credit card and bank account numbers, and personal identity documents like driving licenses and passports.
According to reports, the attack caused significant disruptions across the hospital system, resulting in delayed or lost lab results, medication errors, and other adverse consequences. The incident highlights the critical importance of robust cybersecurity measures in the healthcare sector, where the stakes are particularly high due to the sensitive nature of patient information.
This is now the third-largest healthcare-related breach of 2024, according to the Department of Health and Human Services’ list of data breach investigations.
Source: techcrunch.com
