Cyber thieves target UCLA health system

In an apparent justification of the delayed announcement, UCLA noted in its statement that cyber attacks happen daily in the world of health care, saying that it fights off millions of attempted hacks of its system every year. 

The health care provider, which oversees four hospitals and over 150 primary and specialty care offices in California, is in the process of notifying those whose information may have been swiped. It plans to offer all such customers a year of identity theft recovery and restoration services. Anyone whose Social Security or Medicare identification numbers may have been compromised will receive a year of credit monitoring. 

“We sincerely regret any impact this incident may have on those we serve,” said James Atkinson, the interim associate vice chancellor and president of the UCLA Hospital System, in a statement. “We have taken significant steps to further protect data and strengthen our network against another cyber attack.”