Ransomware Impacts
Health care sees largest data breach costs at $9.23M, while 76% fail to secure supply chain
SC Media, July 28, 2021
The average cost of a data breach in the health care sector tops $9.23 million, the highest of all 17 sectors analyzed for the IBM Security 2021 Cost of a Data Breach Report. Meanwhile, a new CynergisTek report shows 76% of providers are failing to secure their supply chains, one of the sector’s biggest blindspots.
FBI tells Congress ransomware payments shouldn’t be banned
CNN, July 28, 2021
Congress should not attempt to address the threat of ransomware by making ransom payments to cybercriminals illegal, a top FBI official told US lawmakers Tuesday.
Why healthcare security needs urgent care
Hospital Health, July 28, 2021
Increased ransomware incidents in health care require stringent protection of critical systems and data. Australia’s healthcare sector has been the target of increased cybersecurity incidents since COVID-19 forced digital care into the spotlight. Sensitive data collected by healthcare providers, as well as their increased reliance on cloud-based services and telehealth, make the industry a prime target
FACT SHEET: Biden Administration Announces Further Actions to Protect U.S. Critical Infrastructure
White House, July 28, 2021
The Biden Administration continues to take steps to safeguard U.S. critical infrastructure from growing, persistent, and sophisticated cyber threats. Recent high-profile attacks on critical infrastructure around the world, including the ransomware attacks on the Colonial Pipeline and JBS Foods in the United States, demonstrate that significant cyber vulnerabilities exist across U.S. critical infrastructure, which is largely owned and operated by the private sector. As we have seen, the degradation, destruction, or malfunction of systems that control this infrastructure can have cascading physical consequences that could have a debilitating effect on national security, economic security, and the public health and safety of the American people.
When Ransomware Group REvil Vanished, Its Victims Were Stranded
Bloomberg, July 27, 2021
Hi, this is Kartikay on the cyber team. Ransomware attacks always hurt—but perhaps never more so than when the victim is compromised through the very company they pay for IT and security services.
Relentless cyber attacks are putting financial pressure on hospitals: Fitch Ratings
Fierce Healthcare, July 26, 2021
A historic jump in the number and severity of cyber assaults on hospitals during the last 18 months will cause “material revenue and expense pressures” on nonprofit hospitals and health systems, according to a report from Fitch Ratings.
The internet’s ‘existential threat’: From hospitals to schools, ransomware disrupts Florida’s most vital services
Orlando Sentinel, July 23, 2021
When Paula Sullivan took her husband to the emergency room at UF Health The Villages Hospital in early June, she remembers thinking it should be a short visit — probably no more than overnight. At 55 and struggling with ongoing cancer treatment, he often needed transfusions of platelets following chemotherapy.
How Can Congress Aid Healthcare Cybersecurity, Fight Ransomware?
Health IT Security, July 22, 2021
Witnesses testified before Congress this week, noting that the healthcare sector needs help battling cyberattacks and ransomware.
Second FinCEN Exchange on Ransomware to Take Place in August
FinCEN, July 15, 2021
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) today announced it will convene a FinCEN Exchange in August 2021 with representatives from financial institutions, other key industry stakeholders, and federal government agencies to discuss ongoing concerns regarding ransomware, as well as efforts by the public and private sectors. The FinCEN Exchange will build upon FinCEN’s November 2020 event on ransomware. FinCEN anticipates that this FinCEN Exchange will assist its government and private sector partners to inform next steps to address ransomware and focus resources to mitigate the threat.
Rewards for Justice – Reward Offer for Information on Foreign Malicious Cyber Activity Against U.S. Critical Infrastructure
U.S. Department of State, July 15, 2021
The U.S. Department of State’s Rewards for Justice (RFJ) program, which is administered by the Diplomatic Security Service, is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the identification or location of any person who, while acting at the direction or under the control of a foreign government, participates in malicious cyber activities against U.S. critical infrastructure in violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA).
White House announces ransomware task force — and hacking back is one option
Politico, July 14, 2021
The administration is promoting efforts to help agencies go on defense and offense against hackers whose economically paralyzing attacks pose a growing threat to the U.S.
Report: Cyberattacks drive 185% spike in health care data breaches in 2021
SC Magazine, July 13, 2021
More than 22.8 million patients have been impacted by a health care data breach so far in 2021, a whopping 185% increase from the same time period last year where just 7.9 million individuals were affected according to a new report from Fortified Health Security.
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