Patients in Dumfries and Galloway have been warned that their stolen data could be used for extortion after a cyber attack on the NHS. The attack took place in February and the criminals then published details of six patients online in March after their demands weren't met. On May 6, they then published three terabytes of personal information relation to patients and NHS workers including X-ray results and complaints letters among other thing.
But NHS Dumfries and Galloway say their IT systems are 'as secure as they can be' and haven't disclosed details of how the systems were accessed due to advice from Police Scotland . READ MORE: Data stolen in cyber attack on health board 'published on dark web' NHS Dumfries and Galloway chief executive Julie White has written to every household in the region to offer reassurance and advice. In a leaflet, she encouraged patients to call Police Scotland on 101 if they were concerned about attempts to access their emails.
The leaflet said: “It is an acknowledged risk that the stolen data could be used to exploit or threaten people. This could either be by the cyber criminals who copied the data or someone who accesses it now that it has been published. “Anyone accessing the stolen data would be in breach of the Data Protection Act.
If you receive a suspicious approach from anyone claiming to possess your NHS data or anyone else’s NHS data, you should call Police Scotland by phoning 101.” However the health board said that due to the.
