UnitedHealth Group CEO takes bipartisan heat in Senate hearing over cyberattack

UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty took fire from both sides of the aisle Wednesday during his testimony before the Senate Finance Committee on the cyberattack on Change Healthcare, a subsidiary of his company. Senate Finance Chair Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) made it clear straight out of the gate that he blamed Witty’s leadership for the cyberattack, … Read more

China warns foreign hackers are infiltrating ‘hundreds’ of business and government networks

It did not identify the hacking group’s name or location. US moves against cybersecurity ‘risk’ posed by China-made port infrastructure Beijing has expanded efforts in cybersecurity compliance in recent years amid a perceived increase in attacks by foreign agencies. China and the United States, in particular, have exchanged accusations of state-backed cyberattacks with targets ranging … Read more

UnitedHealth cyberattack “one of the most stressful things we’ve gone through,” doctor says

Exton, Pennsylvania — The ransomware attack last month on Change Healthcare, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group, has turned into a national crisis. For doctors like Christine Meyer of Exton, Pennsylvania, it has become a personal nightmare. “It’s been one of the most stressful things we’ve gone through as a practice, and that’s saying something given that … Read more

Health care providers may be losing up to $100 million a day from cyberattack. A doctor shares the latest

Last month’s suspected ransomware attack on a major health technology company has sent the health care system reeling — costing providers an estimated $100 million daily as payment disruptions continue, according to an estimate from First Health Advisory, a digital health risk assurance firm. “This is by far the biggest ever cybersecurity attack on the American healthcare system … Read more

Microsoft says Russian hacking group is still trying to crack its systems

A logo sits illuminated at the Microsoft booth in the Mobile World Congress 2024 on February 26, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain. Xavi Torrent | Getty Images News | Getty Images Microsoft on Friday said that Russian group Nobelium, which the company refers to as Midnight Blizzard, has been trying to access its internal systems and … Read more

Biden team, UnitedHealth struggle to restore paralyzed billing systems after cyberattack

Margaret Parsons, one of three dermatologists at a 20-person practice in Sacramento, California, is in a bind. Since a Feb. 21 cyberattack on a previously obscure medical payment processing company, Change Healthcare, Parsons said, she and her colleagues haven’t been able to electronically bill for their services. She heard Noridian Healthcare Solutions, California’s Medicare payment … Read more

Cyber-physical attacks fueled by AI are a growing threat, experts say

Network security graphic user interface background. Da-kuk | E+ | Getty Images When most people hear about cybersecurity hacks they envision frozen monitors, ransomware demands, and DDoS attacks that compromise connectivity for a few hours or even days. Some experts, though, are worried that with the arrival of widespread artificial intelligence in the hands of hackers … Read more

Notorious ransomware provider LockBit taken over by law enforcement

Washington — A ransomware service provider that has targeted over 2,000 systems across the globe, including hospitals in the U.S., with demands for hundreds of millions of dollars was taken down Monday, and Russian nationals were charged as part of an international plot to deploy the malicious software, the Justice Department announced Tuesday.  Known as LockBit, … Read more

FBI director to warn Congress of dangers Chinese hackers pose to American infrastructure, innovation

Washington — Hackers backed by the Chinese government are targeting U.S. water treatment plants and electrical grids, strategically positioning themselves within critical infrastructure systems to “wreak havoc and cause real-world harm to American citizens and communities,” FBI Director Christopher Wray is expected to tell  Congress Wednesday.  “There has been far too little public focus on … Read more

gas stations: A suspected cyberattack paralyzes the majority of gas stations across Iran

Nearly 70% of Iran’s gas stations went out of service on Monday following possible sabotage – a reference to cyberattacks, Iranian state TV reported. The report said a “software problem” caused the irregularity in the gas stations. It urged people not to rush to the stations that were still operational. Israeli media, including the Times … Read more