Hacker asks for $10 million for records
HIPAA Weekly Advisor, May 11, 2009
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A computer hacker wants $10 million for the return of more than 8 million patient records and 35.5 million prescriptions taken recently from a secure Web site for the Virginia Prescription Monitoring Program, reported the Web site Wikileaks.
Wikileaks says the hacker left a ransom note on the VPMP Web site that read: “I have your [stuff]! In *my* possession, right now, are 8,257,378 patient records and a total of 35,548,087 prescriptions. Also, I made an encrypted backup and deleted the original. Unfortunately for Virginia, their backups seem to have gone missing, too. Uhoh :( For $10 million, I will gladly send along the password.”
The VPMP Web site is used by pharmacists and other health officials to monitor prescription drug abuse. Virginia Department of Health Professions Director Sandra Whitley Ryals released a statement May 7 confirming a criminal investigation is underway regarding the security breach.
“While DHP cannot comment directly on an ongoing investigation, we can assure the public that all precautions are being taken for DHP operations to continue safely and securely,” she said.
Read the full story by HealthLeaders Media’s John Commins.
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