Latest cybersecurity reporting from selected sources.

Measure Would Create Federal AI Coordinator, Expand Data Interoperability EffortsA bipartisan House bill would create a federal coordinator to accelerate the use of artificial intelligence, standardized health data and interoperable research platforms in an effort to speed pediatric cancer research, improve clinical trial design and expand treatment options for children.

Breach Affects Pediatric, Orthodontic and Dental Surgery Practices in 6 StatesA Nashville, Tennessee firm that provides HR and finance services to dozens of specialty dental practices across six states is notifying more than 173,400 people of a 2024 email hacking incident affecting children and other patients. The company already faces several lawsuits related to the breach.

Health Records of Children, Deceased Patients Among Compromised DataCommunity Health Center, which has a dozen primary care, dental and other clinics in Connecticut, is notifying nearly 1.1 million people - including pediatric patients and their parents and guardians - that their information was potentially stolen in a cyberattack detected earlier this month.

Inc Ransom is Leaking Stolen Data in At Least 2 Attacks, Including Pediatric InfoAt least three United Kingdom National Health Service hospitals are responding to recent cyber incidents, including a children's hospital and a heart and chest specialty hospital are both located in Liverpool and share IT systems. Inc Ransom claims to have stolen data from those two hospitals.

Boston Children's Health Physicians Says Incident Involved Unnamed IT VendorRansomware gang BianLian has listed Boston Children's Health Physicians - a pediatric group that practices in New York and Connecticut - on its dark web site, threatening to release stolen patient and employee data. The practice said the September incident involved an IT vendor.

Nearby College's Health Sciences Center Is Also Experiencing an IT OutageUniversity Medical Center, a Lubbock, Texas-based public health system that includes a level-one trauma center and a children's hospital, is diverting ambulances and working to restore an IT outage affecting some patient services in the wake of a ransomware attack late last week.

Watchdog Audit Finds Security Gaps at HHS Children and Families AdministrationA Department of Health and Human Services division that administers funding, training and other services to children and families is putting sensitive data at high risk because of gaps in cloud security controls and practices, according to a watchdog agency report.

Also: Ransomware Group Rhysida Says It Sold Data Stolen in the AttackA Chicago children's hospital has finally restored access to its electronic health records systems following a cyberattack detected in late January. But the pediatrics hospital is still working to bring its MyChart patient portal and various other systems back online.

One Month Later, Lurie Children's Hospital Still Recovering From Ransomware AttackRansomware group Rhysida is offering to sell "exclusive data" stolen from a Chicago children's hospital for $3.4 million on the dark web, while the hospital is still struggling to recover its IT systems, including its electronic health records and patient portal, one month after the attack.

Pediatric Tech Vendor Hit by 2022 Data Breach Affecting 3 Million - Mostly ChildrenAn electronic health record and practice management software firm says the only way to avoid bankruptcy from the consolidation of nine proposed class action lawsuits filed in the wake of a 2022 data breach is to settle the case for $4 million.

Cyberattacks on Pediatric Facilities Are Rare But Considered Especially EgregiousNetwork systems - including phones, email, electronic health records and patient portals - remain offline at a Chicago children's hospital and research center nearly a week after it was hit by a cyberattack. Such incidents targeting entities that cater to kids are especially egregious, experts say.

Pediatric Hospital and Safety-Net Facility Are Dealing With Recent IncidentsTwo Chicago hospitals are navigating the effects of recent cyberattacks. One, a children's hospital, has taken its IT network offline to respond to an incident, and the other, a nonprofit safety-net hospital, is being shaken down by cybercriminals asking for a hefty ransom in return for stolen data.