St Vincent’s Health is urgently responding to a cyber attack after hackers stole data from its network days before Christmas.
The nation’s largest not-for-profit health and aged care provider has launched an investigation into whether the data breach continues after it detected the cyber security attack on Tuesday.
“St Vincent’s immediately took steps to contain the incident, engaged external security experts, and notified all relevant state and federal governments and the necessary agencies,” a spokesman for St Vincent’s said in a statement on Friday.
“Late on Thursday, 21 December, St Vincent’s found evidence that cyber criminals had removed some data from our network.
“St Vincent’s is working to determine what data has been removed.”
While the health provider is continuing to investigate the cause of the attack, no patient records seem to have been targeted at time of publication.
“Key activities include securing and containing the incident, understanding what the cyber criminals have done, and identifying what data may have been accessed and stolen,” the spokesman said.
“To date, this incident has not affected the ability of St Vincent’s to deliver the services our patients, residents, and the broader community rely on across our hospital, aged care, and virtual and home health networks.
“Our priority is the health and safety of our patients, residents, and our people, and the continuity of St Vincent’s services for the community.”
More to come.