A ransomware attack on a laboratory based in Florida has exposed the personal health information (PHI) of more than 30,000 patients.
Nationwide Laboratory Services, which is based in Boca Raton, identified suspicious activity on its network on May 19, 2021. An examination of the activity revealed that attackers had used ransomware to encrypt files across the healthcare provider’s network, making their contents inaccessible.
The lab hired a third-party cybersecurity firm to investigate the attack and assist with remediation. Digital forensics revealed that cyber-attackers had broken into areas of Nationwide Laboratory Services’ network that contained patients’ PHI.
Lawbreakers behind the ransomware assault encrypted files in which patient data was stored, including names, dates of birth, lab test results, medical record numbers, Medicare numbers, and health insurance information.
