Missouri medical center pays hackers to unlock computer system

Officials at Kansas City, Mo.-based Truman Medical Center paid hackers to regain access to parts of its computer system after being the target in a ransomware attack, according to local news station KSHB.

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The IT team at Truman Medical Center received a message Aug. 6 that it had been the victim of a ransomware attack. Hackers demanded an undisclosed amount of money.

Truman Medical Center consulted with a third-party negotiator, its cybersecurity insurance career and outside cybersecurity experts to pay “a small amount of money, for which the medical center was insured.”

Patients’ health records and financial information were not affected, as they are stored on a different computer system, KSHB reports.

“We will continue to provide quality care to all our patients as we bring the affected parts of our operational programs back on track,” Truman Medical Center officials said in statement.

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