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Computer virus may have exposed data of Beth Israel patients
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Aug. 8, 2011
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston is notifying more than 2,000 patients of a potential data breach that occurred when a vendor failed to restore security controls after performing maintenance on a hospital computer.
The computer had the names, genders and dates of birth of 2,021 patients stored on it, as well as the dates and details of radiology procedures they underwent. No Social Security numbers or financial data were stored on the computer. The computer was transmitting data to an unknown location when it was infected by a virus following a routine maintenance visit.
The virus was removed from the computer, the software was reinstalled, and updated security controls were activated to prevent future viruses. The patients whose information was stored on the computer have been offered one year of identity protection services.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2011/08/08/bibf0808.htm.
