Security News > 2020 > October > Finland Shocked by Therapy Center Hacking, Client Blackmail
Finland's interior minister summoned key Cabinet members into an emergency meeting Sunday after hundreds - and possibly thousands - of patient records at a private Finnish psychotherapy center were accessed by a hacker or hackers now demanding ransoms.
Vastaamo, which has branches throughout the Nordic country of 5.5 million and operates as a sub-contractor for Finland's public health system, said its client register with intimate patient information was likely stolen during two attacks that started almost two years ago.
The center said the unknown perpetrator or perpetrators had published at least 300 patient records containing names and contact information using the anonymous Tor communication software.
Police were looking for the possible culprits both in Finland and abroad. It was not immediately clear if the stolen information included diagnoses, notes from therapy sessions or other potentially damaging information.
Various Finnish organizations have rapidly mobilized ways to help the victims of the breach, including direct dial-in numbers with churches and therapy services.