A ransomware group is threatening to publish a huge cache of stolen data following a cyber attack on a Scottish health board.<\/p>\n
NHS Dumfries and Galloway warned earlier this month that hackers could have acquired \u201ca significant quantity\u201d of patient and staff information.<\/p>\n
A group calling itself INC Ransom has now said it will make public three terabytes of data unless its demands are met.<\/p>\n
The cyber criminals have published what they\u2019ve called a \u201cproof pack,\u201d including confidential information on a small number of patients.<\/p>\n
The first minister said the government is doing everything it can to stop the release of the stolen data.<\/p>\n
NHS Dumfries and Galloway confirmed that “clinical data relating to a small number of patients” had been published by a recognised ransomware group.<\/p>\n
In a statement, it said hackers were able to access a significant amount of data including patient and staff-identifiable information.<\/p>\n
Jeff Ace, the health board’s chief executive, said patient-facing services were functioning “effectively as normal” after the attack on IT systems earlier this month.<\/p>\n
He said that as part of the response, the health board will be making contact with any patients whose data has been leaked.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cWe absolutely deplore the release of confidential patient data as part of this criminal act.<\/p>\n