Part 11/16:

Cybersecurity teams analyzed the malware. They discovered that the malware had been designed to delete logs and encrypt critical hospital data, demanding a ransom—potentially tens of millions of dollars—for decryption keys. The hackers threatened to release or leak the data if their demands were not met.

Ethical Dilemma: To Pay or Not to Pay?

Hospital leadership faced a thorny dilemma: comply with hackers’ demands and risk funding illicit activities while perhaps regaining their data swiftly, or refuse and accept prolonged data loss with potential long-term damage.