Harris Center for Mental Health targeted by ransomware, subsequent report of data breach
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The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD in Harris County is impacted by an attack that's believed to be ransomware. The facility faced a security breach that led to the encryption of some of their staff's working files, rendering them inaccessible. The center took action by shutting down their network to halt the attack's progression. Ongoing analysis is being conducted to ascertain whether any sensitive data was accessed or stolen.
As a result of these security measures, the Harris Center's staff are restricted from access to important files, which has caused some interruptions in patient services.
Currently, the Harris Center is coordinating with both internal teams and external cybersecurity professionals to investigate the breach and recover from it. They have also reported the incident to the appropriate law enforcement authorities.
The seriousness of the situation is underscored by the involvement of the Harris County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management.
Update - on 7th of January 2024 the Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD reported that the cyberattackon November 7, 2023 has leading to an unauthorized access of their network between. The incident potentially compromised various personal information, including:
- names,
- addresses,
- Social Security Numbers,
- medical details.
The number of affected individuals is not disclosed.
Following an investigation and notifying law enforcement, the Harris Center is reviewing its policies and offering affected individuals credit monitoring and identity protection services.
