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MOMENTUM
MEDIA
The Florida Department of Health is facing delays in issuing birth and death certificates after threat actors claimed to have breached its systems and exfiltrated data.
The RansomHub ransomware gang said it breached the systems of the Florida Department of Health, stealing 100 gigabytes of data.
The listing, which is now labelled “PUBLISHED”, allegedly contains personally identifiable information such as names, addresses, phone numbers, birth dates, Social Security numbers, employee records and passport data.
Protected health data was also reportedly compromised, including prescriptions, health program applications, dental services, medical correspondence, screening results, health insurance information, policy numbers and more.
The data was published after the Florida Department of Health failed to pay a ransom request, which is illegal for state and local governments to do in Florida.
Florida Department of Health confirmed last week that it had suffered a cyber security incident.
Florida Department of Health press secretary Jae Williams provided little detail as to what the incident was but confirmed that the attack impacted Florida’s Vital Statistics system, which issues birth and death certificates.
“The department is coordinating with law enforcement and all relevant stakeholders,” Williams said.
The attack has had a flow-on effect on Florida residents, particularly funeral homes.
Speaking with WFSU on Monday (8 July), Thomas Griffin Jr. of Tallahassee-based Strong & Jones Funeral Home said that families are having to wait for funeral and burial services as death certificates are not available.
“We can’t accommodate the families at this time period as far as what they need done to accomplish insurance policies and things of that nature,” he said.
“A lot of stuff you can’t get done without a certified copy of the death certificate.”
Similarly, Lawson Funeral Home director Stephanie Lawson told Spectrum Local News that the entire pipeline of people working in the funeral industry has been affected.
“Between our funeral home, the physicians, the medical examiner, we all are trying to work hand in hand, but it’s difficult all the way around,” Lawson said.
“Because on the computer everything went to those various departments, and we were able to get those cremation permits in 24 to 48 hours. Now it’s taking longer.”
Florida Department of Health has not given a date as to when services will be restored.
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