Files of JFJ Eyecare were encrypted after a malware attack

JFJ Eyecare Ltd., doing business as the Quantum Vision Centers and Eye Surgery Center LLC, announced about security breach of their systems. This incident has caused a few of its systems getting accessed by the hackers.

As per a press release, the Quantum Vision Centers and Eye Surgery Center LLC based in Illinois revealed that they became aware about this incident on Apr. 18, 2019. According to the eyecare firm, the hackers deployed malware on a few of their systems and then encrypted several files. This also includes some patient files of a server containing patients PHI (Protected Health Information).

Quantum Vision Centers and Eye Surgery Center LLC has recently started notifying the patients that a few of their PHI might have been compromised in ransomware attack of April 2019. The kinds of data that has been affected in this incident might include first name and last name, social security number, address, date of birth, and information related to the health insurance coverage.

Till now, there has been no evidence whether the hackers have accessed or acquired the data during encryption process. "There is currently no evidence that suggests this malware incident actually resulted in the acquisition of any personal information beyond its encryption, but that possibility cannot be conclusively ruled out," the company stated, as reported by InvisionMag.

According to officials, several remedial steps were taken by the Quantum Vision Centers and Eye Surgery Center LLC for containing the attack and preventing the malware from further spreading. This includes hiring a third-party forensics company to help determine scope and nature of the attack, as well as deploying the backup measures in order to restore data encrypted by ransomware.

Currently the investigation is still going on, but it is assumed that the malware has not been used for stealing any type of patient information. The main aim of the attack seems to have been extorting money from the company.

The company continues providing services to the patients with limited amount of interruption. Additionally, it is also offering all the affected patients a year of complementary credit monitoring services.

Quantum Vision Centers and Eye Surgery Center LLC urged their users to stay vigilant in the coming few months, and monitor their bank as well as other financial account statements regularly along with their credit report.

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