Corporate enterprises and governments used to be the main targets of cyberattacks, but now any organization with an online presence is vulnerable. The surge in remote working due to the pandemic significantly increases risk as IT departments balance the demands of security, remote access and business continuity. Widespread use of new apps and solutions, credential sharing, unsecured Wi-Fi, weak passwords, lack of encryption and more provide cybercriminals with many opportunities to exploit gaps in security.
Universal Health Services (UHS), one of the largest healthcare services provider, has reportedly shut down systems at healthcare facilities around the U.S. after a cyberattack hit its networks.
A ransomware attack last spring at Simon Fraser University (SFU) reportedly compromised the personal information of about 250,000 students, faculty and alumni. Information included student and employee identification numbers, full names, birthdays, course enrolments and encrypted passwords.
The Duesseldorf University Clinic in Germany was hit by a ransomware attack last week that forced staffers to direct emergency patients elsewhere. The cyberattack “crippled the entire IT network of the hospital." As a result, a woman seeking emergency treatment for a life-threatening condition died after she had to be taken to another city for treatment, according to several outlets.
Ransomware attacks are on the rise – and they are getting more and more sophisticated and destructive. That is bad news for executives struggling to maintain a high level of cybersecurity even as their organizations continue to cope with the massive impact of a pandemic.
Over the weekend, Fairfax, Va. County Public Schools, the 10th largest school district in the country, was hit by Maze ransomware, resulting in an apparent leak of student and faculty data, just days after previous attacks on these two other school systems.
The Fourth District Court of Louisiana has been hit by ransomware. Hacking group/ransomware strain Conti has claimed the attack on the US Court, and published apparent proof of the attack on its dark web page this week, CBR reports.
Recently, schools throughout the U.S. have endured delays in reopening after experiencing massive ransomware attacks that force the shutdown of critical information technology systems.
Digital Shadows released new research into a group of cybercriminals who are essential to the profitability of ransomware, but who are also often overlooked: initial access brokers. Initial access brokers gain remote access to vulnerable organizations, which an end-purchaser of ransomware or RaaS can then leverage to wreak havoc.
According to the latest white paper from Keeper Security, "Understanding & Preventing Ransomware Attacks," ransomware attacks have become increasingly common for three reasons.
