You Have Been Hacked!

Abstract

On October 31, 2021, I learned the electronic health record in my independent, solo practice had been attacked by a Russian syndicate who was holding our data and our practice management system for “ransom.” An encryption key could be given to our cloud provider once $5,100,000 was delivered in bitcoin to the hacking entity. After 3 long months of negotiations, with us going back to a completely paper-based system in the interim, our cloud provider paid the Russian syndicate and access was restored. There were many lessons to be learned from our experience. We were fortunate, and through the help of many of our business associates we were able to survive and live to see another day.