Data from Cancer Center Leaked, Specialty Infusion Pharmacies Locked.

Parker Bytes December 18, 2023

Well, blimey! As if things weren’t challenging enough, we’re seeing a disconcerting rise in cyberattacks targeting our health sector. Let’s take a closer look at some recent incidents, shall we?

Firstly, there was a bit of a kerfuffle at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center over in Washington. Who’s to blame you ask? None other than a group called Hunters International. They claimed responsibility for the uproar, revealing a hefty 533.1 GB file believed to be chock-full of internal documents. Worryingly though, patients of the center were directly contacted with frighteningly accurate information from their records. This suggests, quite ominously, that the attackers were able to get their hands on some patient data.

Though scant details have emerged from the cancer center and the alleged wrongdoers, it seems secure files or systems weren’t encrypted—although no one’s coming out and saying it. Obviously, the center has had to take the unenviable step of alerting affected patients and urging them not to engage with these unsavoury characters. And as if things weren’t bad enough, a flurry of lawsuits have already started piling up from the attack.

Moving onto another worrisome case, that of BioMatrix LLC – a well-established provider of specialty infusion pharmacy services spread across seven states in America. Just a few weeks ago, they found themselves in the crosshairs of a group named Medusa.

Medusa announced the attack on their website, even posting snapshots of over two dozen internal files, some of which unfortunately contained patients’ personal health information. They’ve even stooped so low as to demand a ransom to avoid more data being leaked. The nerve, eh? They’ve insisted on $10,000 to stall the release for a day or a frightfully large sum of $1 million to delete all data. With no other details or background information shared, it’s all dreadfully mysterious.

We should bear in mind precisely what BioMatrix and similar facilities do; offering treatment and meds that regular pharmacies don’t. If these services get disrupted, patient care suffers and for some, it can be a frightful experience trying to find alternative solutions. Considering the quite severe risk to medical safety and life, the notion of these attacks just for financial gain seems, to put it lightly, rather heartless, doesn’t it?

The bottom line is that the potential harm to speciality pharmacies, infusion centers and the patients they serve is colossal, both financially and from a health perspective. As we delve deeper into the specifics of these attacks and learn more, it’s absolutely essential to remember what’s truly at stake – patient safety and the integrity of our health sector.

Although we haven’t heard much from Medusa since (their accounts suspiciously offline since the announcement), it’s clear people are watching, waiting and fighting back, as they should! We shan’t be bullied by cyber bullies, not on our watch! As more details come to light, we will certainly keep our chins up and our defences stronger. The fight for our health sector’s cybersecurity is far from over. Cheers to our resilience!

by Parker Bytes