Good morning. I'm James Holman from the Washington Post and this is the Daily

202 for Thursday, October 29. In today's news, Hurricane Zeta roars inland after slamming New Orleans.

President Trump formalizes one of the most sweeping public land rollbacks in American history.

And Democrats in Pennsylvania and North Carolina

claim key wins at the Supreme Court. But first, the big idea. Russian speaking

cyber criminals in recent days have launched a coordinated attack targeting

U.S hospitals already stressed by the coronavirus pandemic with ransomware that analysts worry could lead to fatalities.

In the space of 24 hours beginning Monday, six hospitals from California to New York have been

hit by the Ryak Ransomware, which encrypt data on computer

systems forcing the hospitals, in some cases to disrupt patient care and cancel non-critical

surgeries.

Ellen Nakashima and Jay Green report that the criminals have demanded a ransom ranging

upward of $1 million to unlock each system.

And some hospitals have paid. The FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Health and Human Services have issued an emergency alert to all health care providers in America, warning them of the grave threat.

A woman in Germany died last month,

when the hospital she went to for emergency care

turned her away because it had suffered a similar ransomware attack.

She died en route to another facility.

These sneak attacks by the Russians have shut down some procedures at Sky Lakes Medical Center in Klamath Falls, Oregon.

The hospital is unable to offer cancer treatments that are computer controlled.

The attack has curbed diagnostic imaging as well.

Doctors and nurses have turned to paper for patient records

...