Hospital agrees to pay hackers’ ransom

“In the best interest of restoring normal operations, we did this”, Stefanek said.

The attack, which is thought to be random, has been going on for more than a week and is now being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Los Angeles Police and forensic experts that have been privately hired by the hospital.

The first is that ransomware hit the hospital’s IT network and spread to numerous computers via a local LAN server, and the total ransom for each infected computer amounts to around 9,000 Bitcoin. According to authorities, the hospital was the victim of a cyber-attack on February 5 that locked the hospital out of its computer systems using ransomware to infect their network. Stefanek further stated that patient care was never compromised, nor were hospital records. There, a hospital fell prey to a cyberattack – and the hospital has escaped its plight by paying hackers a $17,000 ransom.

Although, Locky appears to be only demanding about $420 to unlock user’s files, and it appears to be going after individuals and not large organizations, like in the Presbyterian attack.

Inside Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital computer screens have been dark since hackers took over the data network nearly two weeks ago.

Stefanek’s statement did not say who orchestrated the attack or when the ransom was paid, and the hospital declined BuzzFeed News’ request for additional information.

Bitcoins, the online currency that is hard to trace, is becoming the preferred way for hackers collect a ransom, FBI Special Agent Thomas Grasso, who is part of the government’s efforts to fight malicious software including ransomware, told The Associated Press past year. Hollywood Presbyterian has had to turn patients away or transfer existing patients to other medical facilities.

HPMC immediately called law enforcement on February 5, Stefanek said.

There were speculations that the hackers demanded 9000 bitcoins in ransom.