Memorial Hospital of Salem County’s owner victimized by hackers millions of patients’ information vulnerable

Community Health Systems, which operates 206 hospitals around the U.S., including the Memorial Hospital of Salem County in New Jersey, was victimized by a hacker attack that could leave 4.5 million patients vulnerable to data theft.According to widespread media reports, Community Health Systems believes the attack originated in China and netted the attackers patient names, addresses, birth dates and Social Security numbers, among other data. Reports indicated that anyone who was referred to, or received services from, doctors affiliated with the hospital group during the past five years could be vulnerable to identity theft.

Community Health Systems did indicate that no credit card or medical record information was stolen, reports said.

The hospital company is working with federal authorities and cybersecurity experts, and has removed the hackers’ malware from its systems, the reports added.

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