Capital Health Hit by Cyberattack: Traces of LockBit Foul Play Emerge
Capital Health, a prominent healthcare organization based in New Jersey, recently faced a significant cybersecurity incident resulting in network outages towards the end of November 2023.
Visitors to the organization’s website were immediately greeted with a ticker acknowledging the cyberattack on Capital Health, stating, “Capital Health recently experienced network outages due to a cybersecurity incident.”
Cyberattack on Capital Health: Swift Response and Ongoing Investigation
In response to the cyberattack on Capital Health, the firm’s Information Technology team acted promptly, initiating an assessment of the situation, implementing data safeguards, and working tirelessly to restore system functionality.
Law enforcement and third-party forensic and information technology experts were promptly engaged to aid in the investigation, and additional security measures were implemented to protect systems.
The official statement released by Capital Health acknowledged the broader trend, mentioning, “Capital Health experienced network outages towards the end of last month due to a cybersecurity incident; something we know is also being experienced at other healthcare organizations across the country.
As of now, all services at Capital Health’s facilities are fully operational, with systems fully restored, and normal operations have resumed. The organization has reassured the public that they are working diligently with a forensic investigation firm to assess the risk to patient and employee data. More information will be provided as it becomes available.
Allegations of LockBit Involvement
However, cybersecurity analyst Dominic Alvieri, in a LinkedIn post, alleged that Capital Health had fallen victim to the LockBit ransomware attack. According to Alvieri, LockBit chose not to encrypt the hospital network to avoid hindering patient care. However, Capital Health has not officially disclosed the name of the hacker group involved.
Capital Health, which includes the Regional Medical Center Hospital in Trenton and the Capital Health Medical Center Hospital in Hopewell, is currently under scrutiny for the cyber incident.
The Cyber Express Team has reached out to Capital Health for further clarification on the Capital Health cyberattack and the preventative measures the organization is implementing to safeguard against future attacks.
The Perennial Target: Why Healthcare Draws Hackers
The cyberattack on Capital Health raises questions about the persistent targeting of healthcare organizations by hackers.
Cybersecurity experts argue that the sensitive nature of patient data and the critical infrastructure within healthcare systems make them lucrative targets for cybercriminals.
As investigations unfold, it remains crucial for organizations like Capital Health to fortify their cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive information and ensure the uninterrupted delivery of healthcare services.
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