University of Hawaii Cancer Center hit by ransomware attack

BleepingComputer

January 12, 2026 at 6:48 PM

Actively Exploited

Overview

In August 2025, the University of Hawaii's Cancer Center experienced a ransomware attack that compromised sensitive data belonging to study participants. The breach included historical documents dating back to the 1990s, which contained Social Security numbers. This incident raises significant concerns about the protection of personal information in medical research, particularly as the stolen data can be used for identity theft and fraud. The university is now facing the challenge of addressing the fallout from this breach, including notifying affected individuals and enhancing their cybersecurity measures to prevent future incidents. As healthcare institutions increasingly rely on digital systems, the need for robust data protection strategies has never been more critical.

Key Takeaways

Active Exploitation: This vulnerability is being actively exploited by attackers. Immediate action is recommended.
Affected Systems: University of Hawaii Cancer Center data, study participant information, Social Security numbers
Timeline: Ongoing since August 2025

Original Article Summary

University of Hawaii says a ransomware gang breached its Cancer Center in August 2025, stealing data of study participants, including documents from the 1990s containing Social Security numbers. [...]

Impact

University of Hawaii Cancer Center data, study participant information, Social Security numbers

Exploitation Status

This vulnerability is confirmed to be actively exploited by attackers in real-world attacks. Organizations should prioritize patching or implementing workarounds immediately.

Timeline

Ongoing since August 2025

Remediation

Not specified

Additional Information

This threat intelligence is aggregated from trusted cybersecurity sources. For the most up-to-date information, technical details, and official vendor guidance, please refer to the original article linked below.

Related Topics: This incident relates to Ransomware, Data Breach, Critical.

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