UMMC Says It Paid No Ransom in February Cyberattack

University of Mississippi Medical Center did not pay a ransom in connection with the cyberattack that disrupted its systems on February 19, officials confirmed. UMMC Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs LouAnn Woodward, MD, told SuperTalk Mississippi that the state did not compensate the hackers, according to Becker's Hospital Review. State Sen. Nicole Akins Boyd, who chairs a legislative committee, was among those briefed on the incident.

The Jackson-based academic medical center is the state's only Level I trauma center and largest hospital, which makes any disruption to its systems consequential for patients across Mississippi. Refusing to pay follows guidance from the FBI and federal cybersecurity officials, who warn that ransom payments fund future attacks and do not guarantee data recovery.

Healthcare remains one of the most targeted sectors for ransomware, and hospitals increasingly face public scrutiny over whether they negotiate with attackers. UMMC's stance signals that even a hard-hit state system can restore operations without paying, though officials did not detail the recovery cost or the data exposed.