Hackers Take Control of Computer Network At Missouri Hospital; Demand Ransom

Ransomware attacks such as this one are unfortunately quite common, occurring multiple times per second on a global scale. File photo: Andrey_Popov, ShutterStock.com, licensed.

KANSAS CITY, MO – Liberty Hospital in Missouri fell victim to a grim cyber assault Tuesday when a menacing blackmail message from a hacker resulted in a disruption of its computer systems. A message from an anonymous source targeting the hospital warned, “We have hacked you and downloaded all confidential data of your company. Your reputation will be ruined. Save your business. Contact us within 72 hours.” This message itself was uncovered exclusively by KMBC-TV, an ABC affiliated television station in Kansas City, Missouri.

The blackmail – or ransomware – has disrupted operations, causing confusion and inconvenience among patients. For instance, one patient arrived at the hospital for an appointment only to be informed that the hospital’s electronics were malfunctioning and he would need to reschedule.

The blackmail letter, received on Tuesday, seemed to coincide with the crash of the hospital’s computer systems, according to reports. The hospital was compelled to redirect some patients to other locations. Specifically, anyone requiring emergency care was advised to seek help elsewhere, illustrating the severe impact this cybercrime inflicted.

In an attempt to manage the situation, some primary and specialty care patients were seen on Wednesday, while appointments for other patients needed to be rescheduled. The lack of any prior notification by the hospital, however, stoked frustration among many.

A statement from Liberty Hospital’s Spokeswoman Michelle Manuel neither confirmed nor denied receiving the blackmail notice. She declared, “We are actively investigating the source of the disruption and will provide additional information as soon as we are able”.

In light of the circumstances, management at Liberty Hospital admits that restoring the computer systems safely online is a lengthy process. However, they offer reassurances of working diligently to ensure this happens sooner rather than later.

This ransomware situation stands as a stark reminder of the pernicious threat that cybercrime poses in our digitized era and emphasizes the need to fortify cybersecurity measures in sensitive sectors such as healthcare.

Ransomware attacks such as this one are unfortunately quite common, occurring multiple times per second on a global scale. Here’s a breakdown of the frequency:

• Globally:
  • An estimated 1.7 million ransomware attacks happen every day, translating to 19 attacks every second. (Source: NinjaOne)
  • In 2022, there were 493.3 million ransomware attacks, although this was lower than the 625.3 million attacks in 2021. (Source: Statistica)
• Individually:
  • 15.45% of internet users worldwide experienced at least one malware-related attack (which includes ransomware) in 2021. (Source: Kaspersky)
  • 13% of small and medium businesses reported experiencing a ransomware attack in the past year. (Source: Datto)