Maui Health Center Allegedly Attacked by Russian Hackers
A health center in Maui that serves around 12,000 patients faced a major disruption after an alleged cyber attack. This attack came from one of the world's largest ransomware groups, said to be based in Russia.
Health Center's Operations Affected
Last month, the Malama I Ke Ola Health Center in Wailuku was shut down for more than two weeks due to this cyber attack. The center is now back to being fully operational. The disruption caused significant chaos among patients and staff.
Security Firm Raises Alarm
On June 7, an Indian cyber security firm named FalconFeeds made a post on social media. They pointed out that the Lockbit ransomware group was behind this attack. FalconFeeds CEO Nandakishore Harikumar even shared a screenshot from Lockbit’s dark web portal. According to Harikumar, this group extended a ransom deadline but did not provide any samples of breached data.
“The claim by Lockbit indicates they are one of the biggest threats in the ransomware space,” said Harikumar.
Official Response from Health Center
Sarah Goonting, the marketing specialist for the health center, said, “Our systems are fully operational. We are continuing to update our patients and employees about the incident. If the forensic investigation confirms any impact on patient data, affected patients, if any, will be properly notified.” Goonting did not comment on questions about Lockbit or any possible ransom.
Law Enforcement Efforts
In February, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced a crackdown on the Lockbit ransomware group. This group has targeted more than 2,000 victims, collected over $120 million in ransom payments, and made demands worth hundreds of millions of dollars. “US and UK law enforcement are taking away the keys to their criminal operation,” said Garland. This disruption includes obtaining keys from Lockbit’s seized infrastructure to help victims regain access to their data. Several members of Lockbit, including their alleged Russian leader, were charged last month.
Expert Insights on Cyber Attacks
Cybersecurity experts in Hawaii, including Associate Professor Debasis Bhattacharya from the University of Hawaii Maui College, say that ransom amounts do not have to be large. They could be as much as what insurance covers. Bhattacharya noted, “These kinds of attacks are mostly aimed at community hospitals and rural agencies because they often succeed.”
Ongoing Investigations
A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices mentioned that they “cannot confirm or deny the existence of nonpublic reports or investigations” and redirected inquiries to the FBI.
The attack on Malama I Ke Ola Health Center highlights the ongoing threat of cyber attacks on healthcare facilities and underscores the need for improved cybersecurity measures.
