JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – One week after a ransomware attack hit the University of Mississippi Medical Center, the hospital continues to direct patients to social media updates for information.
A cybersecurity expert says the slow response is by design.
The Solutions Team, a firm that supports thousands of healthcare offices, doesn’t have UMMC as a client.
However, CEO Todd Gooden said the aftermath of a ransomware attack must be methodical and conducted in layers.
“As frustrating as it is, as a patient — or you and I are patients there — we really don’t want them to come back online until they’re ready to come back online,” Gooden said. “They have to almost have the attitude of we can’t trust anything.”
Healthcare data is a high-value target
Gooden said ransomware attacks on healthcare organizations are not isolated incidents, and patients are not always notified when a breach occurs.
“Very often, people don’t know that their healthcare organization has been compromised. And a good healthcare organization should, under federal regulations, notify you and make it public. But, depending on the size of the breach, they’re not always required to let you know that there’s been a compromise,” Gooden said.
He said healthcare records carry significant value compared to other personal data.
“As an example, a Social Security number on the dark web is worth like four bucks. But a medical record is worth $40 because, with that medical record, I have your Social Security information, I have your home address, I potentially have your Blue Cross Blue Shield information,” Gooden said.
AI is expanding the threat
Gooden said artificial intelligence is making it easier for bad actors to find vulnerabilities and advised all consumers, not just UMMC patients, to take protective steps now.
“For all the compromises we’ve seen over the last 18 months, you just might as well assume that your data is out there on the dark web. So, even if you’re not a patient of UMMC or you don’t have a loved one that is, I would encourage you to engage with a product like LifeLock and put credit monitoring on everything,” Gooden said.
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