A ransomware attack crippled the IT systems of a regional hospital chain, forcing 14 facilities to divert emergency patients and revert to paper-based workflows for nearly a week.
The attackers encrypted electronic health record systems, imaging archives and laboratory networks. Hospital officials confirmed that some patient data was exfiltrated before encryption, and the group has threatened to publish it unless a ransom is paid.
Federal cyber authorities deployed incident response teams to assist recovery, prioritizing the restoration of clinical systems. Officials declined to comment on whether negotiations were underway.
Healthcare remains among the most targeted sectors for ransomware, with attackers betting that the life-safety stakes of hospital downtime increase pressure to pay quickly.
