Connor Sheets reports: A data breach may have resulted in the exposure of the personal and protected health information of patients of a medical lab chain with multiple Alabama locations. American Esoteric Laboratories announced Friday that it had become aware of a “data security incident” that could impact patients’ data security. An AEL employees’ company-issued laptop was…
Ohio Wesleyan Alumnus Using Physics to Improve Safety of Online Information
Gopeka Nair writes: Recent developments in practical quantum computers could pose a threat to encryption techniques that secure online data, including banking and medical information. Ohio Wesleyan University alumnus Taimur Islam ’13 is working to keep such data safe. […] Currently, digital information that’s transmitted is encrypted so it is unintelligible to hackers. The data…
UK: Former hospital worker prosecuted for inappropriately accessing patient records
From the Information Commissioner’s Office: A former employee of a Milton Keynes hospital trust has been prosecuted for accessing patient records without authorisation. Michelle Harrison, of Milton Keynes, inappropriately accessed the records of 12 patients outside of her role as receptionist/general assistant in the Orthotics Department at Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust between March…
Atlanta spent at least $2.6 million on ransomware recovery
Zack Whittaker reports: Atlanta spent more than $2.6 million on recovery efforts stemming from a ransomware attack, which crippled a sizable part of the city’s online services. The city was hit by the notorious SamSam ransomware, which exploits a deserialization vulnerability in Java-based servers. The ransom was set at around $55,000 worth of bitcoin, a…
Government’s Response to Malware Defendant’s Constitutional Challenge Falls Short
Alexander Berengaut writes: Last summer, Marcus Hutchins, the security researcher who stopped the “WannaCry” malware attack, was arrested and charged for his role in allegedly creating and conspiring to sell a different piece of malware, known as Kronos. As we have previously discussed on this blog, however, the indictment was notable for its lack of…
Former gynecologist set to stand trial for patient privacy violations, lying to federal agents
Stephanie Barry reports on a case that I don’t recall ever hearing about before: Jury selection will begin this morning in the trial of Rita Luthra, a former gynecologist accused of violating patient confidentiality laws, witness tampering and lying to federal investigators. The case against Luthra, of Longmeadow, is a significantly watered-down version of the…