Comments on: Hackers Steal Your Prescription Records From Virginia Computers

By: Pat.Herve

Pat.Herve — Thu, 07 May 2009 01:44:16 +0000

sounds like an inside job to me.

If the person was able to sabotage the backups, delete the info, encrypt it, etc - too much access to the process to not be an inside job.

And yes, Electronic Medical Records are coming - we need to get healthcare costs under control, and our antiquated system adds to our costs. People complain about the taxes companies pay, well, runaway healthcare costs (with no control) are often more than the taxes - and with hc being 15% of GDP, we pay more for healthcare than any other country in the world.

By: DPortM

DPortM — Wed, 06 May 2009 16:23:18 +0000

Greg, Alex Granados’ blog on the MJM website covers your posting today.

By: Groveton

Groveton — Tue, 05 May 2009 17:20:29 +0000

So, where is Mr. McDonnell’s commentary on this matter? This would seem “tailor made” for him. It’s a law and order issue, it happned on Kaine’s watch and McDonnel’s the former AG who should be demanding aggressive investigation and prosecution. Maybe he feels enough alligience to his former office that he wants to let those still in office make the comments? It seems that this security “hole” has been there a while. Maybe Mr. McDonnell should have been paying more attention to cybersecurity while in office? I don’t know. I just wonder why it’s getting such limited coverage. It’s also a “hot story” involving computer hacking, electronic medical records, ransom notes, etc. Along with thousands of other people, I get Twitter updates from all 4 candidates (although Mr. Moran, or his campaign, is not very active). I see where they are constantly campaigning and speaking to groups in Virginia. They all have plenty of chances to take up this matter in public. I understand that the Dems don’t want to embarrass Kaine. But McDonnell? Where’s the outrage? Where’s the demand for Tim Kaine to take immediate action?

The Richmond Times Dispatch is also reporting the story, FWIW. http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/article/HACKGAT05_20090504-212004/265693/

By: Greg L

Greg L — Tue, 05 May 2009 16:46:56 +0000

Bob resigned from the AG position in order to campaign. The current AG is Bill Mims. As for the veracity of the story, the WashPo checked it out and they’re satisfied, FWIW.

By: Groveton

Groveton — Tue, 05 May 2009 15:56:24 +0000

I’ve heard that where there’s smoke there’s fire. However, I’d be a little reticent to accept something reported on Wikileaks as Gospel. WaPo and RTD are reporting a Wikileaks.org entry. It may turn out to be false, less than it seems or true. However, you’d think that the state government would officially make some kind of comment given the concern over this matter and the growing reporting of it. This statement should be coming straight from Tim Kaine. However, I’ve also got to ask where Bob McDonnell is on this. He’s the Attorney General - no? Maybe we have a bit of a standoff - McDonnell can’t say much because he’s get AG issues, the 3 Dems don’t want to sqwak because it makes Kaine look bad.

Or, this could be BS or just somebody defacing the web site without stealing the data.

One thing for sure - this is classic Commonwealth of Virginia “mushroom management” - keep the citizens in the dark and feed them … well, you know what mashroom “eat”.

By: Johnson

Johnson — Tue, 05 May 2009 15:11:52 +0000

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/04/AR2009050403755.html

I love how the WashPo dances around the real reason-health care ain’t free in Mexico.

By: Charlie Fugate

Charlie Fugate — Tue, 05 May 2009 14:53:29 +0000

This is on the same par with the Spender-in-Chief’s proposal to put all veterans medical records in a “E-records” system. Nice. Although I will conceded that VA e-records would affect a narrow sample of the population in Virginia. The principle still stands, if the government can’t be trusted with oversight of prescription records, how will they manage a full file of medical records?