An audit has found the Waikato District Heath Board fell victim to a computer virus last year because its anti-virus software failed.
The conficker virus caused the shut down of 3,000 Waikato DHB computers, after it was loaded onto an unprotected computer via a USB stick.
The computer was used by a third party and was connected to the DHB';s network.
The DHB has admitted it gave insufficient priority to addressing the known risk of viruses. Mass use of USB storage devices and weak password protection also put it at a higher risk
The DHB say while there is no guarantee it can avoid future viruses, the reports have identified steps to avoid a similar incidents.
