a similar thing occurred a years ago in the UK as well (https://medium.com/...s-bleak-b8f64985b936). It turns out that a lot of hospital records systems are maintained on old hardware and software that make it much more prone to this sort of attack. there is a lot of info around the UK attacks and the problems they had sound very similar to what is described in this article.

 
Sounds like there has been a response by govt and Microsoft earlier this year, and this latest wave of attacks may be in part a retaliation, not even solely profit -driven.

https://www.nytimes.com/...&pgtype=Homepage

“Mr. Holden and other cybersecurity experts say that the targets and the timing — just weeks after the United States targeted TrickBot — suggest that one possible motivation could be retaliation.
In late September and October, fearing that cybercriminals could use ransomware to disrupt the election, the Pentagon’s Cyber Command started hacking TrickBot’s systems. Microsoft pursued the systems in federal court, successfully dismantling 94 percent of TrickBot’s servers.
The takedowns relegated TrickBot’s operators to “a wounded animal lashing out,” Mr. Holden said. His firm captured online messages sent among the group, including a list of 400 American hospitals they planned to target, and informed law enforcement.
“We expect panic,” one hacker wrote, in Russian.
U.S. officials warned hospitals about a “credible threat” of attacks on Oct. 23, and then an unusual cluster of attacks on hospitals took place. Several hospitals — including Vermont Medical Center and the St. Lawrence County health system in New York — have said they received no ransom note.”

It's behind a paywall, but from what I know about it, I believe we are way behind this as a nation and need to get up on the stick.

This may be the next level of terrorism, and frankly it's actually terrifying. There's so much here that could happen, I honestly hope that we are on it behind the scenes.

Baltimore schools may not have classes until after new year.

https://www.google.com/...l%3FoutputType%3Damp

But it is pretty easy to defend against ransomwear, and hospitals are a known target. Not sure why it is still happening.

But there’s a piece of metal in the Utah desert!!!!!!

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Civilize the mind, but make savage the body.

- Chinese proverb