L.A. hospital pays hackers thousands to retrieve data

A Los Angeles hospital is paying $17,000 in ransom to the people who hacked into their computer network.

Inside Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital, computer screens have been dark since hackers took over the data network almost two weeks ago.

The attack used what’s known as “Ransomware.” Malicious software that encrypts files, which can only be unlocked with a software “key” after a ransom is paid.

In this case, hackers demanded and the hospital paid $17,000 in the computer currency “bitcoin” which is nearly impossible to trace.

Since the attack, the medical center staff has resorted to pen and paper and even fax machines for communication.