Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Bitcoin ransomware Ryuk is unleashing havoc on the already overburdened hospitals. The healthcare system across many countries is facing immense stress due to the surge in Coronavirus cases. Ransomware, at this point, will only aggravate the burden on the hospitals.
I can confirm that #Ryuk ransomware are still targeting
hospitals despite the global pandemic. I'm looking at a US health care provider at the moment who were targeted overnight. Any HC providers reading this, if you have a TrickBot infection get help dealing with it ASAP.— PeterM (@AltShiftPrtScn) March 26, 2020
Ransomware can be very tough to deal with if they take over the host system. The current pandemic is pushing hospitals and healthcare infrastructure to the edge. The group behind Bitcoin ransomware Ryuk is exploiting this fragile situation for lucrative gains. It is unfortunate that certain malicious elements are using a global human tragedy and bringing a bad name to the crypto industry.
Bitcoin ransomware Ryuk taking healthcare systems hostage
As coronavirus brings the world on its knees, various ransomware groups have openly declared that their nefarious activities will continue unabated. The institutions, be it hospitals or governments, are facing an unprecedented crisis. A BleepingComputer report suggests that there has been a marked increase in the number of ransomware attacks. The magazine confirmed that ransomware groups are in no mood to show any leniency towards their potential targets in these tough times. Their activities will continue to target hospitals, clinics, and medical centers.
Fortunately, there are some groups who have announced a ceasefire of sorts. DoppelyPaymer and Maze are two notorious ransomware groups who have risen above the profiteering to stop all attacks at healthcare facilities. The group behind Bitcoin ransomware Ryuk is taking advantage of the present coronavirus pandemic and focusing on vulnerable healthcare facilities.
SentinelOne, an AI-based security platform, states that there has been no fall in the number of attacks against hospitals even in this hour of crisis. Vitali Kremez of SentinelOne, adds that coronavirus has come as an opportunity for many fringe ransomware groups. Hospitals are in a vulnerable state with an overload of COVID-19 cases. He further states that there has been a rise in the number of ransomware attacks since hospital personnel is more geared towards stopping the pandemic and not their IT infrastructure.
