Windows XP virus causes chaos in Melbourne hospital - also PCs with patient records infected

While Microsoft ended support for Windows XP about two years ago, some organisations continue to use the outdated operating system. Also the Royal Melbourne hospital uses the fifteen year old OS which allowed a virus to cause chaos.

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Because Windows XP no longer receives security updates it's very vulnerable to malware. In the Royal Melbourne hospital this caused a virus to first hit the pathology department and then rapidly spread across the hospital network.

Essential processes like blood and tissue processing could no longer be performed by computers and also nurses had to cooperate with the food department to make sure all patients received the right meals because the computers that contained records of patients were also infected.

Meanwhile the IT departement of the hospital reports the situation is under control and that they are working hard to recover everything. Until then, some employees will continue to perform tasks manually.

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Support for Windows XP ended about 2 years ago and Microsoft already warned that leaks in the OS would soon be attacked by criminals. The company therefore recommends to update to Windows 7, Windows 8.1 but especially to Windows 10.

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