[LINK] Hacking of medical records

[Bernard Robertson-Dunn]

On 12/12/2012 3:58 PM, Glen Turner wrote:
> On 11/12/2012, at 8:01 PM, David Boxall <david.boxall at hunterlink.net.au> wrote:
>
>> On 11/12/2012 2:19 PM, Tom Worthington wrote:
>>> ABC Radio South East is going to interview me at 8:46am Wednesday, about
>>> the hacking of medical records. According to the report "hackers" have
>>> demanded $4,000 to restore the records of a medical centre:
>>> http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-12-10/hackers-target-gold-coast-medical-centre/4418676
>>> ...
>> OK, they were hacked and the records encrypted. Bummer!
>>
>> Were those the only records? No backups?
> ABC News Radio had an interview, and the person seemed to have an understanding of IT.
>
> The interviewed person said there were backups. However these were to a disk which was online at the time of the hack, so the backups were deleted.

Oh, dear, another technology solution without regard to the real 
problem. A back-up should be considered as a "write once, never delete" 
store. Special steps should be taken to re-use the storage space. A 
back-up exists so it can be read, if needed.

It would have been better if the person had an understanding of what IT 
needs to do as well as how to do it.

Nature abhors stupidity.

-- 

Regards
brd

Bernard Robertson-Dunn
Sydney Australia
email: brd at iimetro.com.au
web:   www.drbrd.com
web:   www.problemsfirst.com