Stolen documents renew focus on IT security

Key information about the computers and networks used at three New York nursing homes was discovered on a file-sharing site frequented by hackers, according to an article in The Wall Street Journal.

The site, 4shared.com, contained information from the Bronx Center for Rehabilitation & Healthcare in, the Glengariff Healthcare Center in Glen Cove, N.Y., and the Campbell Hall Rehabilitation Center in Campbell Hall, N.Y. The data included network specifications, network firewall passwords, MAC addresses of mobile devices and the Internet addresses of specific computers.

Glengariff Healthcare Center told the WSJ that the password information stolen from their facility was so old it wasn’t usable. The Bronx Center had discovered a breach in 2012 and had taken action to change security providers, the WSJ reported. The Campbell Hall facility didn’t respond to requests for comment, according to the WSJ.

Although protected patient data from the facilities have not been discovered on the site, the stolen information posted is the type of information that could have been leveraged by hackers hoping to penetrate the facilities’ network firewalls and wireless networks.

Pamela Tabar

Pamela Tabar was editor-in-chief of I Advance Senior Care from 2013-2018. She has worked as a writer and editor for healthcare business media since 1998, including as News Editor of Healthcare Informatics. She has a master’s degree in journalism from Kent State University and a master’s degree in English from the University of York, England.