Hacker Halts Access to Prescription Pills
June 30th, 2009 by Rick
Blowback from the activities of a hacker that infiltrated the computers connected to VA state prescription database is now being felt as pain-stricken people do not have access to their medication. Over 35 million prescription records were compromised.
Pharmacists only have limited access to the database and apparently will not prescribe medication without history and information. A House panel in the Virginia Legislature learned Monday, that patients were not receiving the following drugs:
- Oxycontin
- Valium
- Vicodin
- Ritalin
Two Virginia legislative panels looked into the Northrop Grumman Corporation, a technology company that ran the program that has a $2b, 10-year contract with Virginia. Oddly enough, Northrop Grumman Corporation is also the 4th largest defense contractor in the world. What this has to do with pill prescriptions leaves one’s mind to wonder.
Hacker Gains Access to VA Medical Database
May 8th, 2009 by Rick
A hacker may have had access to 8 million patient records and 35 million prescription records, all obtained from a highly sensitive database. The Prescription Monitoring Program, a state run program, was breached last Thursday. Essentially, it allows medical professionals and pharmacies to track powerful narcotics and painkillers, to help reduce abuse, theft or their sale on the black market.
The hacked computer network has been shut down since then and all data has been backed up and secured. The hacker even demanded a hefty ransom of $10M but the VA state government refused to negotiate with the computer intrusion specialist’s demands.
