Vermont briefs: Hospital says cyberattack was ransomware; schools may merge accreditation
The Associated Press
Modified: 12/23/2020 8:50:12 PM
BURLINGTON A Vermont-based hospital network is now saying a cyberattack that crippled its computer systems in October was ransomware.
While the Burlington-based University of Vermont Health Network, which serves hospitals in Vermont and upstate New York, had said its systems were attacked on Oct. 28, officials had not confirmed the attack that disabled the system’s 600 applications was ransomware.
On Tuesday, hospital officials said its information technology workers found a file directing them to contact the attackers if they wanted their systems restored, but it did not contain a request for money.
Vermont hospital says cyberattack was ransomware
December 23, 2020 GMT
BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) A Vermont-based hospital network is now saying a cyberattack that crippled its computer systems in October was ransomware.
While the Burlington-based University of Vermont Health Network, which serves hospitals in Vermont and upstate New York, had said its systems were attacked on Oct. 28, officials had not confirmed the attack that disabled the system’s 600 applications was ransomware.
On Tuesday, hospital officials said its information technology workers found a file directing them to contact the attackers if they wanted their systems restored, but it did not contain a request for money.
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HHS Hits California, Vermont Medical System Over Abortion Policies
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced it will withhold at least $200 million in federal Medicaid funds from California in the first quarter of 2021 because the state is illegally forcing insurance companies and employers, including a Roman Catholic order of religious sisters, to cover abortion “without exclusion or limitation.”
The move comes as the HHS Office of Civil Rights (OCR) announced on Dec. 16 a series of enforcement actions aimed at organizations it says are violating conscience-protection laws related to abortion. OCR, through its Conscience and Religious Freedom Division, is responsible for enforcing federal conscience statutes.