Security News > 2020 > October > COVID-19 Clinical Trials Slowed After Ransomware Attack

A ransomware attack has hit eResearchTechnology, a medical software company that supplies pharma companies with tools for conducting clinical trials - including trials for COVID-19 vaccines.

It hasn't disclosed how many of its customers have been affected by the ransomware attack, or which ransomware strain is responsible.

Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson, both of which are working on a COVID-19 vaccine, announced that their trials weren't impacted by the attack.

While it's unclear what the motivation behind this ransomware attack ultimately was, it's known that attacks on organizations leading the medical fight against the coronavirus pandemic have been continuing.

"Anything connected to sensitive data for COVID-19 is definitely under threat by foreign nation-state actors or foreign competing companies looking to find usable information. Or, it could be an individual attacker or a group of attackers trying to collect money. Attackers understand this has exceptional worth because the companies are very well positioned financially, and that clinical trials make a quick payoff very advantageous."

News URL

https://threatpost.com/covid-19-clinical-trials-ransomware/159877/