Suspected ransomware attack hits Ross Memorial Hospital
Ross Memorial Hospital declared a Code Grey at 10:53 p.m. on Sunday, February 5 due to a suspected cybersecurity incident.
The hospital has retained third-party cybersecurity resources to work with technical experts to investigate the incident according to industry best practices.
“In the meantime, as high-quality patient care is our priority, we are managing our established protocols to maintain continued delivery of our critical hospital services. Our systems restoration plan is also ongoing, and we are communicating with our local, regional, and provincial partners regarding next steps,” a media release states.
Updates will be provided on their website at www.rmh.org, and via the hospital’s social media channels.
Patients with less urgent conditions are encouraged to consider alternate options for care such as their primary health care provider, pharmacist, after-hours clinic, virtual care, or by calling Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0007. After-hours clinics can often treat non-urgent and minor illnesses and ailments, such as earaches, sore throats or prescription refills.
Whoever hit the Ross must be competing for low life of the century.
Municipal computers, like those of any other organization, can be vulnerable to ransomware attacks if they are not properly secured and maintained. This includes regularly updating software and operating systems, implementing strong passwords, backing up important data, and training employees on how to avoid phishing scams and other forms of cyber attacks.
It’s also worth noting that municipalities often hold sensitive data, such as personal information of citizens and confidential financial information, making them an attractive target for attackers. Municipalities with outdated or poorly secured systems may be more susceptible to attacks, while those with up-to-date software and comprehensive security measures may be less vulnerable. As a result, it is important for municipalities to prioritize cybersecurity and take proactive steps to prevent and respond to potential attacks.
For transparency and accountability, I think it should be a requirement for the City of Kawartha Lakes to publicly describe how the risk of cyber attack is assessed and mitigated.