Hospitals in Ontario have confirmed that data was exposed in the wake of a ransomware attack that occurred last week.

Five hospitals in Ontario, in addition to their shared IT provider, have disclosed that data related to a recent ransomware attack has been exposed. This cyberattack, which occurred on October 23, led to service disruptions at Bluewater Health, Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, Erie Shores HealthCare, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, and Windsor Regional Hospital.

In a collaborative statement, the hospitals and TransForm, a non-profit entity responsible for overseeing the hospitals’ IT infrastructure, have initiated an investigation to ascertain the extent of data that has been made public.

The group has confirmed that the ransomware attack impacted their operations, including specific patient, employee, and professional staff information. They are committed to promptly informing any individuals whose data has been compromised.

Furthermore, the group has made the decision, following advice from experts, not to comply with the ransom demands. They are actively cooperating with law enforcement agencies, which include local police departments, the Ontario Provincial Police, Interpol, and the FBI. They have also notified all relevant regulatory bodies, including the Ontario Information and Privacy Commissioner.

The hospital organizations are diligently working to restore their systems and will reach out to affected patients to reschedule appointments as necessary.