Hackers sought in data ransom case

RICHMOND, Va., May 8 (UPI) -- The FBI and Virginia State Police are searching for hackers who claim to have stolen millions of personal records from the state's prescription drug database.

The hackers threatened to sell the records unless they received $10 million in ransom by Thursday but the deadline passed with no immediate sign that they followed through, The Washington Post reported Friday.

The Virginia drug database contains 8 million patient records and 35 million prescriptions. If the theft is real, it would be the most serious cybercrime Virginia has faced in recent history, the newspaper said.

Sandra Whitley Ryals, director of Virginia's Department of Health Professions, said the drug program's computer system was shut down after officials learned of the breach on April 30. She said all records were backed up and the files have been secured.

Gov. Tim Kaine called the incident "an intentional criminal act against the commonwealth by somebody who was trying to harm others."