BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — Hacked and held for ransom by a computer virus, a doctor’s office in Battle Creek was forced to close its doors after, doctors said, they refused to pay and their entire system was wiped out.
Dr. William Scalf told Newschannel 3 ransomware locked up the system at Brookside ENT and Hearing Center and the hackers demanded $6,500 in exchange for a code to access the files.
With no guarantee the code would unlock the files or the hackers wouldn’t come back to ask for more money later, Scalf and his partner, Dr. John Bizon, did not pay the ransom.
All of office's files, including appointment schedules, payment and patient information was erased, Scalf said.