Cyber Attack Targeting Hospitals

<p>Hackers have a new target and it's not your computer or smartphone.&nbsp;Cyber thieves are now going after hospitals.</p>

Monday, April 4th 2016, 9:40 am

By: News 9


Hackers have a new target and it's not your computer or smartphone. Cyber thieves are now going after hospitals.

A cyber attack at medical facilities in the Washington D.C. area highlights this growing trend. "MedStar" said significant progress is being made on restoring its system.

A system that was crippled by what the hospital calls a virus, which prevented patients from booking appointments and left staff unable to check email. But a spokesperson would not deny the possibility of ransom ware.

That's when hackers hold computers hostage for a price.

Last month, a California hospital paid hackers $17,000 in ransom to regain access to its medical records. 

A report in the "Washington Post" said hospitals are becoming hackers' new target because their computer systems lack the security of other industries like banking and technology.

It's unclear how the attacks will impact patients' health care but security experts are warning hospitals to expect more attacks,

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