Russian hackers targeted the pharmaceutical industry last week. As hackers turn their attention to the health care industry, what will happen to Americans across the nation in poor health or affected by disabilities?

From ExtremeTech. Millions of Americans had difficulty obtaining prescription medications last week thanks to a ransomware gang’s attack on the pharmaceutical industry. ALPHV, a Russian-speaking ransomware gang, is thought to have disabled a network responsible for directing insurance claims to pharmacies. The hackers reportedly stole patient data and forced the network to temporarily shut down, preventing patients from obtaining vital medications typically paid for by insurance.

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UnitedHealthcare Group, one of the biggest health insurance entities in the United States, told the Washington Post on Friday that hackers had targeted Change Health, its “switch business.” Switch businesses like Change Health and CoverMyMeds route prescription claims between pharmacies and claims reviewers, who ultimately decide whether a patient’s prescription will be covered by insurance. …

While it’s often difficult to verify who’s behind a ransomware attack, a Russian-speaking gang known as ALPHV, ALPHV Blackcat, or Noberus has claimed responsibility for the incident. …

Exactly how much the hackers are demanding Change Health pay to recover its files is unclear. Security experts believe the incident is part of a larger trend involving cyberattacks on the healthcare industry. …

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(Excerpt from ExtremeTech. Photo Credit: iStock)