Security News > 2023 > November > Ransomware crooks SIM swap medical research biz exec, threaten to leak stolen data

Ransomware crooks claim they've stolen data from a firm that helps other organizations run medical trials after one of its executives had their cellphone number and accounts hijacked.

The Register understands one or more people close to or affiliated with the notorious Alphv, aka BlackCat, extortion gang managed to get into a work account of an exec at Advarra and may have copied out at least some information from the business.

The gang earlier warned: "This is their last chance to reach out to us before we leak the data. Patients from clinical research studies are also affected."

Based in Columbia, Maryland, Advarra provides services to those carrying out medical research and clinical trials.

A spokesperson for the biz told The Register today: "An Advarra colleague was the victim of a compromise of their phone number. The intruder used this to access some of the employee's accounts, including LinkedIn, as well as their work account."

Word of the alleged attack on Advarra comes just days after Alphv criminals leaked 8.6TB worth of data from another US healthcare organization.

News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2023/11/01/advarra_ransomware_alphv/