[BreachExchange] Pediatric Group Reports Ransomware Attack Impacting 55,000 Patients’ Data

[Audrey McNeil]

https://www.healthcare-informatics.com/news-item/
cybersecurity/pediatric-group-reports-ransomware-attack-
potentially-impacting-55000

A pediatrics practice, ABCD Pediatrics, serving the San Antonio, Texas
metropolitan area reported that it was hit with a ransomware attack, but
existing antivirus software helped to slow down the attack, and the
practice's IT vendor successfully removed the virus and all corrupt data
from its servers. However, because hackers may have accessed portions of
the practice’s network, the pediatrics group is offering identity and
credit protection services from Equifax Personal Solutions to all of its
patients.

The pediatrics group, which has four locations, posted a “HIPAA
Notification” on its website, regarding an incident that may have affected
patients’ protected health information (PHI). The practice stated that the
notice was made in compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).

Prior to the attack, ABCD Pediatrics had a variety of security measures in
place, including network filtering and security monitoring, intrusion
detection systems, firewalls, antivirus software, and password protection,
according to the organization’s statement.

On February 6, 2017, an employee of ABCD Pediatrics discovered that a virus
gained access and began encrypting ABCD’s servers. The encryption was
slowed significantly by existing antivirus software. Upon discovery, ABCD
immediately contacted its IT vendor, and ABCD’s servers and computers were
promptly moved offline and analyzed. The virus was identified as “Dharma
Ransomware,” which is a variant of an older ransomware virus called
“CriSiS,” according to the organization’s IT vendor.

“ABCD’s IT company reported that these virus strains typically do not
exfiltrate (“remove”) data from the server; however, exfiltration could not
be ruled out. Also, during the analysis of ABCD’s servers and computers,
suspicious user accounts were discovered suggesting that hackers may have
accessed portions of ABCD’s network,” the organization stated.

The IT vendor successfully removed the virus and all corrupt data from its
servers, and the practice said that secure backup data stored separately
from its servers and computers was not compromised by the incident, and it
was used to restore all affected data. According to the organization, no
confidential information was lost or destroyed, including PHI, and the
practice group never received a ransom demand or other communications from
unknown persons. In addition to notifying its patients, ABCD notified the
FBI and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

According to the HHS’ Office of Civil Rights’ data breach portal, the
incident affected 55,447 patients.

While the IT vendor found no evidence that confidential information was
actually acquired or removed from its servers and computers, it could not
rule out the possibility that confidential information may have been viewed
and possibly was acquired, according the ABCD Pediatrics’ statement.
Affected information may have included patients’ names, addresses,
telephone numbers, dates of birth, Social Security Numbers, insurance
billing information, medical records, and laboratory reports.

Following this incident, ABCD’s IT vendor located the source of the
intrusion and implemented additional security measures, including state of
the art cyber monitoring on its network, the organization said.
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