DHEC website access blocked to beef up security

COLUMBIA (AP) — A state agency continues to block public access to notices on its website as it works to improve its computer security.

The State newspaper of Columbia reports that the Department of Health and Environmental Control has temporarily blocked access to many proposed environmental permits. Some have not been available for at least a month. Agency spokesman Mark Plowden says the agency hopes to restore the access this week.

Plowden says the agency is trying to ensure hackers can’t access medical records and nuclear security information.

The work follows a massive security breach at the Department of Revenue. A hacker stole the unencrypted Social Security and bank account numbers of millions of taxpayers in September.

Information not available on DHEC’s website includes notices of plans to discharge sewage into rivers.