The Center for Orthopaedic Specialists in California experienced a cybersecurity breach affecting three of its facilities.
Here are eight things to know.
1. Malicious software was used to access and encrypt patient data from COS facilities in West Hills, Simi Valley and Westlake Village.
2. A third-party technology vendor that provides COS with IT services notified the center that an unauthorized party illegally accessed COS' computer network. After recognizing the breach, the center notified all current and former COS patients.
3. COS launched an investigation and discovered the unauthorized party had tried to access the system starting Feb. 18, 2018.
4. The compromised system was permanently taken offline before the unauthorized party could remove any patient information.
5. Patient data encrypted by the unauthorized party could include a patient's name, date of birth, medical record details and Social Security number.
6. COS does not believe that any patient information was downloaded or removed by the unauthorized party.
7. The center arranged for ID Experts to provide identity protection services for 24 months at no cost to patients.
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