FBI Investigating Virus That Took Major Hospital Chain Offline

Earlier today, healthcare provider MedStar Health, which operates nearly a dozen hospitals in the D.C. area and some 100 clinics, took its network offline after detecting the presence of a computer virus. Now the FBI is investigating.

MedStar revealed the virus in a post on Facebook earlier today.

The company said that after some users were unable to log into the MedStar network, its IT folks “acted quickly with a decision to take down all system interfaces to prevent the virus from spreading throughout the organization.”

The MedStar facilities remained open, using backup systems and — heaven forbid — paper, when necessary. The company says it currently has no evidence that any information has been compromised.

The FBI confirmed to WBAL-TV that it is aware of the situation and that the agency is “looking into the nature and scope of the matter.”