Cybersecurity Firm CEO Charged with Installing Malware on Hospital Systems
TL;DR
Jeffrey Bowie, CEO of the cybersecurity firm Veritaco, is facing charges for allegedly installing malware on computers at Oklahoma City St. Anthony Hospital. The incident, which occurred on August 6, 2024, was captured on security footage, leading to Bowie’s arrest on April 14. The hospital confirmed that no patient data was accessed, and the issue was quickly contained.
Cybersecurity Firm CEO Faces Charges for Installing Malware on Hospital Computers
Jeffrey Bowie, the CEO of the cybersecurity firm Veritaco, has been charged with two counts of violating Oklahoma’s Computer Crimes Act. The charges stem from an incident on August 6, 2024, where Bowie allegedly installed malware on employee computers at St. Anthony Hospital in Oklahoma City ^1.
Arrest and Security Footage
Bowie was arrested on April 14 following the issuance of an arrest warrant. Security footage reportedly shows Bowie attempting to access multiple offices before installing malicious software. The malware was designed to capture screenshots every 20 minutes and transmit them to an external IP address ^2.
“New court documents reveal security cameras captured Bowie wandering around the hospital on August 6, where he tried to get into multiple offices until he stumbled upon two computers. One of those computers was for employees only.”
Reported by KOCO 5 News ^3
Hospital’s Response and Investigation
When confronted by hospital staff, Bowie claimed he had a family member undergoing surgery and needed to use the computer. A forensic review by the hospital later uncovered the malware; however, officials stated that no patient data was accessed ^4.
A statement published by the healthcare organization confirmed the incident:
“On August 6, 2024, an unauthorized individual was identified accessing a hospital computer in an alleged attempt to install malware. The protection of data and the integrity of our systems are top priorities. Due to precautions in place, the issue was addressed immediately, and no patient information was accessed. We worked closely with law enforcement during the investigation.”
St. Anthony Hospital Statement ^5
About St. Anthony Hospital
St. Anthony Hospital in Oklahoma City is a 773-bed general medical and surgical facility located in the Midtown district. The hospital offers a wide range of services, including:
- Cardiology
- Oncology
- Neurology
- Behavioral medicine
- Surgery
- Kidney transplantation
It is also home to the Saints Heart and Vascular Institute, which provides advanced structural heart disease programs ^6.
Veritaco’s Current Status
At the time of this writing, the website of the cybersecurity firm Veritaco is unreachable ^7.
Follow for More Updates
Follow me on Twitter, Facebook, and Mastodon for more updates.
For more details, visit the full article: Source ^8.