NHS Hospitals hit by massive cyber attack

[user1491572121]

www.theguardian.com/society/2017/may/12/hospitals-across-england-hit-by-large-scale-cyber-attack?CMP=fb_gu

[LadyPW]

And your question......

[user1491572121]

This is terrible! Who would do such a thing? Is it something sinister?

[watchoutformybutt]

Well yes it seems sinister to try to disable the NHS it's not just banter is it..

[user1491572121]

What I mean is...could it be some kid sat in his Mum's spare room? Or is it more likely to be a sort of terrorism?

[wolver1ne]

This sort of thing could easily lead to patient deaths. Many hospitals are moving towards paperless systems including for administering drugs / generating prescriptions.

[AnathemaPulsifer]

There have been loads of demands for money. Apparently some US hospitals have been hit and paid up because with e-records they have no way to replace the data. It's not kids.

[user1491572121]

Anathema they paid?? My God. You'd think some genius computer person or people would volunteer to sort it all out for free! Is this kind of thing sortable??

[MrsTerryPratchett]

Demands for money rather suggests deliberate attempt to rob.

You'd have to be an utter sociopath.

[TheNaze73]

Local authorities have paid in a similar fashion as well.

Sick fucks doing it to hospitals though

[Anon213]

The demand for money could easily be cover for something more sinister.

[user1491572121]

It seems to be confined to the North East mainly...

[TheFrenchLieutenantsMonkey]

I was in an Urgent Care centre (in the North East) last night and this happened to my daughter. They couldn't check her XRays as they were lost on the system. They were working their best to get around it. They apologised so much I really felt for them.

[MrsTerryPratchett]

Computer Engineer DH says that the easiest way to do this is 'social engineering'. Me:

It's when you make a person either show you the password or allow you access.

Or a bash bunny. Whatever that is...

[FanDabbyFloozy]

It's the world we live in, and bear in mind that the NHS have paid millions for their IT contracts.

Hence why I don't allow any weak security device into my house - CCTV, Alexa, wireless speakers. Unless I can get a version that runs on a closed network, I am not interested.

[CurbsideProphet]

It's hit the NW too. DP works in the NHS and it's a nightmare for him.

[user1491572121]

MrsPratchett...how do they make someone show their password?

[MrsTerryPratchett]

You call, pretend you're from IT, ask someone to do something, "that's not working can you screenshot?. Some people don't hide their passwords, some people will say their passwords...

[MrsTerryPratchett]

People tend to be the weak link in the system.

[AnathemaPulsifer]

fortune.com/2016/03/29/hackers-medstar-cyber-attack/

[Foureyesarebetterthantwo]

For some reason the NHS or rather GPs in particular hate printing stuff out if you ask for it. I've had to insist that we have copies of blood test results (as everyone is entitled to see data held about themselves under the Data Protection Act) and have been refused until I put my foot down.

This was more so that we can see what's going on, but I guess it could be extremely handy to have your results and diagnoses held on paper by you (not your entire note system as I don't think that's needed).

[AnathemaPulsifer]

Agreed MrsT, a friend who works in network security reckons the password reset is the weakest link. I use the option that requires approval from my phone whenever it's an option - phone is harder to steal as always glued to my hand

[noblegiraffe]

How hackers work in real life

[x2boys]

the trust i worked for had a paperlite system so most of the stuff was on the computer patients notes etc we still did medication on the paper form [that might have changed now as its a couple of yrs since i worked there] something like this would really screw them up .