Hospital forced back to pre-computer era shows the power of ransomware

Malicious software that uses encryption to hold data for ransom has become wildly successful over the last few years. Ransomware, as it is known, now looks to have scored its highest-profile victim yet. Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in Los Angeles was infected by ransomware more than a week ago. The software locked up files throughout the hospital's IT system and, according to unconfirmed reports, demanded 9,000 bitcoins, more than $3 million, for their return. The hospital's computer systems have been shut down ever since. Staff, stuck using paper and fax machines, have struggled to care for patients without access to e-mail or medical records.