Security News > 2020 > October > FBI, DHS, HHS Warn of Imminent, Credible Ransomware Threat Against U.S. Hospitals
Today, officials from the FBI and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security hastily assembled a conference call with healthcare industry executives warning about an "Imminent cybercrime threat to U.S. hospitals and healthcare providers."
The agencies on the conference call, which included the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, warned participants about "Credible information of an increased and imminent cybercrime threat to US hospitals and healthcare providers."
Holden said he saw online communications this week between cybercriminals affiliated with a Russian-speaking ransomware group known as Ryuk in which group members discussed plans to deploy ransomware at more than 400 healthcare facilities in the U.S. One participant on the government conference call today said the agencies offered few concrete details of how healthcare organizations might better protect themselves against this threat actor or purported malware campaign.
"Multiple hospitals have already been significantly impacted by Ryuk ransomware and their networks have been taken offline," Carmakal said.
WWNY's Channel 7 News in New York reported yesterday that a Ryuk ransomware attack on St. Lawrence Health System led to computer infections at Caton-Potsdam, Messena and Gouverneur hospitals.