A Kentucky hospital has been hit with a ransomware virus limiting its use of electronic web-based services, prompting the hospital to declare an internal state of emergency.
Methodist Hospital in Henderson, Ky., posted a notification on its website indicating it is still working to resolve the issue, and the hospital has limited access to web-based services and electronic communications.
The FBI is investigating the cyberattack, reports 14 NEWS. According to the report, the ransomware locked patient files and demands money before unlocking them. David Park, COO of Methodist Hospital, told 14 NEWS the hackers copied patient records and then locked them. The hackers reportedly deleted the originals. The hospital has yet to determine if it will pay the ransom, he said.
"Depending upon the number of records that were locked, depends upon whether we're going to consider looking into whether we pay anything," Mr. Park said.
Methodist Hospital says patient information is secure, and the hospital activated a back-up system while the main network is locked. So far, the hospital has continued operating as normal, according to the report.
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