Hackers have attacked and cracked the IT infrastructure of the Catholic Youth Welfare Department of the Diocese of Augsburg (KJF) – and in this way gained access to sensitive files such as financial data and patient data. According to KJF, the cyber attack took place on April 17, but operations in the affected facilities and clinics continue to run smoothly. The KJF is one of the largest providers of health, social and educational services in Bavaria. Clinics in Augsburg, Kempten, Nördlingen and Murnau are affected.
The perpetrators managed to overcome the security barriers to secure access to parts of the IT infrastructure, the KJF writes in a statement. Some of employees’ personal data, financial data, patient and health data were leaked. Treatment documentation and doctor’s letters from the affected clinics were not stolen. Which patients, contact persons or employees are affected can be researched on a case-by-case basis. The KJF has set up a hotline for those potentially affected on 0821 45057 500 to initiate such research. Information is also available on the homepage at kjf-augsburg.de/cyberattack. Consequences of the cyber attack could include identity theft, reputational damage and exposure; The KJF asks those affected to exercise extreme caution.
The IT systems have been closely monitored since the incident and a timely report has been made to the relevant government agencies and supervisory authorities.