Recent Security Breaches: KHSU Radio Station, Essentia Health, Monroe College and More

Unfortunately hackers can be very persistent. If a company whose technology is not properly secured and becomes the target of a cyber attack, loss of sensitive information is most likely going to be the case. If you are partnering with a managed IT service provider, they should be using all the right tools to keep your information safe from hackers.  Even when an outsourced IT support company is keeping your information secure, it’s always best to stay in the know about what type of security breaches are making waves in the news.

Here are some of the latest hacks:

Northwood, Inc.

Provider of medical equipment, prosthetics, and supplies.

The Hack: Unauthorized email account access

“On May 6th, hackers gained access to an employee’s email account that contained patients’ personally identifiable information. A forensics investigation determined that hackers accessed company data for three days, and it’s unclear why Northwood waited more than two months to notify the public.”

 

WMNF 88.5 FM

Tampa-based community radio station

The Hack: Ransomware

“A ransomware attack on WMNF 88.5 FM forced the station to stop its live broadcasts, leaving listeners with pre-recorded shows instead. The attack also impacted their AudioVault system that includes much of the station’s programming, including advertising material that constitutes a significant share of their revenue.”

 

Wise Health System

Medical provider serving patients in Decatur, Texas

The Hack: Phishing attack

“On March 14th, several employees fell for a phishing scam and entered their usernames and passwords on a false form. Hackers used this information to access an employee kiosk where they attempted to divert payroll deposits. IT administrators don’t believe that the hackers pursued patient data, but this information was included in the compromised accounts.”

 

Henry County, Georgia

Local government serving residents in Henry County, Georgia

The Hack: Unauthorized network access

“A cyberattack forced government agencies to take their network infrastructure offline, which prevented employees from accessing servers for email and daily operations, including tax collections, business licenses, building permits, and phone services.”

 

Essentia Health

Integrated healthcare system offering services in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Idaho

The Hack: Phishing attack

“A vendor providing billing services for the healthcare provider was the victim of a phishing scam that consequently compromised patient data at Essentia Health. The healthcare provider is investigating the incident and the integrity of other third-party vendor systems. In today’s digital landscape, verifiable data security standards are a must have for any partnership that involves personally identifiable information.”

 

Monroe College

Private for-profit college and graduate school based in New York City

The Hack: Ransomware

“The college endured a ransomware attack that disabled network services at its three campuses. The perpetrators issued a demand for $2 million in Bitcoin to release the encrypted files that likely include most of their critical data for executing business and educational activities. While classes remain in session, all of the school’s email and website-based activities are inaccessible.”

 

Richmond Heights City Hall

Local government offices for Richmond Heights, Ohio

The Hack: Ransomware

“When an employee opened a phishing email, it unleashed ransomware that disrupted City Hall’s IT infrastructure. The malware encrypted the employee’s files and displayed a ransom note on the screen that demanded payment in Bitcoin to restore services. ”

 

KHSU Radio Station

Radio station owned by Humboldt State University

The Hack: Ransomware

“Hackers exploited a network vulnerability to deliver ransomware to KHSU’s programming systems and storage servers. Fortunately, the affected servers did not contain any sensitive data, but the attack disrupted the station’s programming, which went offline on July 1st. ”

 

To learn more about how to keep your company safe and secure, click here to explore the IT security plans that are offered by SDTEK.

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