American health insurance giant UnitedHealth Group has confirmed a ransomware attack on its health tech subsidiary Change Healthcare, which continues to disrupt hospitals and pharmacies across the United States. The cyberattack, perpetrated by a group known as ALPHV/BlackCat, has led to widespread outages and impacted millions of Americans’ sensitive health and patient information. The attack has caused significant disruptions to the operations of pharmacies and healthcare facilities, affecting the processing of prescriptions through patients’ insurance.
Key Takeaway
UnitedHealth Group has confirmed a ransomware attack on its subsidiary Change Healthcare, leading to widespread outages at hospitals and pharmacies across the United States. The cyberattack, attributed to the group ALPHV/BlackCat, has raised concerns about the security of sensitive health and patient information.
Confirmation of Ransomware Attack
UnitedHealth Group’s vice president, Tyler Mason, confirmed the cyber security issue and stated that the company is actively working with law enforcement and third-party consultants to address the matter. While there is no indication of the impact on other UnitedHealth Group systems, Change Healthcare’s systems have been significantly affected by the attack.
ALPHV/BlackCat’s Claims
The ransomware group ALPHV/BlackCat claimed responsibility for the cyberattack at Change Healthcare and asserted that they had stolen sensitive health and patient information. However, the veracity of these claims is yet to be verified, and it is unclear whether the company has engaged in negotiations with the hackers.
Impact on Healthcare Facilities
The cyberattack has resulted in widespread outages at pharmacies and healthcare facilities, hindering the fulfillment and processing of prescriptions through patients’ insurance. The incident has also affected military pharmacies worldwide and some retail pharmacies nationally, causing significant disruptions to healthcare services.
Concerns and Call for Action
Security experts have expressed concerns about the escalating ransomware problem and emphasized the need for governments to take swift action to mitigate the impact of such attacks on critical services. The source of the hackers’ access to Change Healthcare’s systems is still under investigation, and efforts are underway to address the ongoing disruptions.
