McLaren HealthCare, one of the largest healthcare systems in Michigan, has fallen victim to a ransomware attack. The attack was confirmed after the notorious hacker group Black Cat/AlphV claimed responsibility for the incident.
McLaren detected suspicious activity on its computer network and initiated an immediate investigation. According to their spokesperson, the investigation concluded that a ransomware event had indeed occurred, and they are currently looking into reports suggesting that some of their data may be accessible on the dark web. If any individuals’ information has been affected, McLaren plans to notify them promptly.
McLaren HealthCare operates 13 hospitals across Michigan, along with various medical services such as infusion centers, cancer centers, primary and specialty care offices, and a clinical laboratory network. With more than 28,000 employees and a wholly owned medical malpractice insurance company, it’s a substantial healthcare provider in the region.
Earlier this month, the company experienced outages that affected billing and electronic health record systems. This situation became so dire that the computer network had to be shut down at 14 different McLaren facilities, forcing employees to rely on personal phones for communication.
In response to the ransomware attack, McLaren has taken several measures to mitigate the situation. They’ve retained global cybersecurity experts to aid in their investigation and have cooperated with law enforcement agencies. Additionally, the healthcare system is focused on enhancing its cybersecurity defenses to secure its systems better and minimize disruptions to patient care and community services.
As of now, the systems remain operational, but the spokesperson did not comment on whether billing and record systems have been fully restored or whether a ransom will be paid. The Black Cat/AlphV ransomware gang claims to have stolen a substantial amount of data, including personal information and hospital-related videos.
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