NEWS
Nocona General investigates hack into its computer system
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
Officials with Nocona General Hospital are in the preliminary stages of trying to figure out what happened when an onsite server used primarily to transfer records was reportedly hacked by a foreign organized crime group.
Brian Jackson, attorney from Jackson & Carter, Austin, spoke for the hospital Monday explaining the hack and how it was being investigated. The information came to the media’s attention during the weekend when NBC News reported hackers posted tens of thousands of files from two U.S. hospital chains to a blog on the “dark web” used to extort their victims often demanding payment through bitcoin.
The report written by Kevin Collier on Feb. 5 states files came from Leon Medical Centers with eight locations in Miami and Nocona General Hospital. The hacker group is reported to be well known to cybersecurity researchers and they typically encrypt the victim’s files and demand payment.
Information can include patient names, addresses and birthdays, along with medical information such as diagnostic results and letters to insurers. Collier writes it is rare for them to publicly release such files first, so the motive for this early release is “unclear.”
Nocona General does not appear to have been a victim of the ransomware. Jackson said an organized crime group from possibly Ukraine or Russia systematically tried to hack into business computer systems in the United States, and a number of them were breached last week including Nocona General Hospital.
Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.
City of Bowie officials were on hand to inspect the emergency electrical generators that were delivered last week.
Mayor Gaylynn Burris and City Manager Bert Cunningham inspected one of three emergency electrical generators purchased as part of an ongoing Federal Emergency Management Agency Hazard Mitigation Grant. They also talked with Jay Evans, head of the city electric department, and Jerry Sutton, director of the water treatment plant about the next step for installation of the generators.
This grant provides funding for one 150 kW and two 250 kW generators for use at the water treatment plant.
Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.
City Manager Bert Cunningham and Mayor Gaylynn Burris talk with the electric and water department staff about the new generators. (Photo by Cindy Roller)
No action was taken on a legal issue after members of the Bowie City Council met in a called closed session at 4 p.m. on July 12.
City Secretary Sandy Page said the council met for almost one hour for “consultation with attorney – Midwest Waste Services LLC vs. City of Bowie.
This lawsuit goes back to August 2019 when Midwest sued the city for its action requiring those who receive city water outside the city limits to use the designated waste collector, which is Waste Connections. This was shortly after the city signed a new long-term contract with WC.
The suit was dismissed in June 2020 on two points in the suit, but City Manager Bert Cunningham said a third point remained in mediation.
-
NEWS2 years ago2 hurt, 1 jailed after shooting incident north of Nocona
-
NEWS8 months agoSuspect indicted, jailed in Tia Hutson murder
-
NEWS1 year agoSO investigating possible murder/suicide
-
NEWS2 years agoWreck takes the life of BHS teen, 16
-
NEWS12 months agoMurder unsolved – 1 year later Tia Hutson’s family angry, frustrated with no arrest
-
NEWS1 year ago
Sheriff’s office called out to infant’s death
-
NEWS2 years agoBowie Police face three-hour standoff after possible domestic fight
-
NEWS2 years ago
Driver stopped by a man running into the street, robbed at knifepoint