malware attack

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama hospital chain that quit accepting new patients after a malware attack crippled computer systems said it has resumed normal operations after paying a ransom demand.

The DCH Health System said its hospitals in the west Alabama cities of Tuscaloosa, Northport and Fayette resumed admitting patients Thursday, and its imaging and patient scheduling services were going back online Friday.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama medical center says the protected health information of more than 19,000 patients has been exposed through a computer hacking attack.

It's unclear exactly how many of the records might have been improperly viewed. But news outlets report that a statement issued Friday says UAB Medicine is notifying 19,557 patents that their personal information could be vulnerable.

A news release says hackers got into the records through a malicious email that looked like a request from an executive who wanted employees to fill out a survey.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama hospital system says it's going ahead with planned surgeries despite a computer hack that is affecting digital systems.

DCH Health Systems posted a note Tuesday night saying elective procedures and surgical cases scheduled for Wednesday will go ahead as planned.

A statement says backup procedures will allow workers to provide safe and effective care.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — A hospital system that serves a large part of rural west Alabama has temporarily quit accepting new patients because of a ransomware attack that crippled some of its computer systems.

A spokesman for DCH Health System says its hospitals in Tuscaloosa, Northport and Fayette began diverting most new patients to Birmingham and elsewhere after the attack became apparent early Tuesday.

DOTHAN, Ala. (AP) — A public school system in Alabama has delayed classes a second time because of continuing problems from a computer malware attack.

Houston County school officials say students now won't return to class until Aug. 12. That's 11 days behind the original schedule and a week later than the first delay.

Education officials won't say what type of attack hit the southeast Alabama school system. But phones and computers aren't working properly.