1.9bn to help combat cyber breaches at hospitals

Saraburi Hospital executives hold a media conference about the ransomware attack on the hospital computer system. (Capture from TV Channel 3) The Public Health Ministry is planning to spend 1.9 billion baht to install a safeguard system at state-run hospitals nationwide following a ransomware attack at the Saraburi Hospital. Sathit Pitutecha, Deputy Minister of Public Health, on Thursday said the Digital Economy and Society (DE) Ministry is working to break the lock in the hospital computer system caused by the cyber attack. The ransomware was detected after it entered the system on Sept 5 at 5.31am. The attacker demanded a ransom of 63 billion baht in Bitcoin to be paid in exchange for unlocking the system. DE Minister Buddhipongse Punnakanta on Thursday confirmed that demand was made. However, Sura Wisetsak, inspector-general for public health, insisted no money will be paid as the...