Mathew J. Schwartz reports: Many ransomware-wielding attackers are expert at preying on their victims’ compulsion to clean up the mess. Hence victims often face a menu of options: Pay a ransom for a decryptor, and you’ll be able to unlock forcibly encrypted data. Pay more, and your name gets deleted from the list of victims…
Category: Of Note
New Data Quantifies Ransomware Attacks on Healthcare Providers
Hannah Neprash and Alan Z. Rozenshtein write: In a new JAMA Health Forum Original Investigation, we and our co-authors address this data gap. We have created the Tracking Healthcare Ransomware Events and Traits (THREAT) database, a comprehensive accounting of 374 ransomware attacks on U.S. healthcare delivery organizations from 2016-2021. To assemble this database we used…
Are Data Breach Class Action Lawsuits Protecting Patients?
Marianne Kolbasuk McGee reports: The prospect of class action lawsuits being filed in the aftermath of a major data breach often has more impact on breached healthcare organizations than the potential for fines and enforcement actions by government regulators, says attorney Jeff Westerman of Westerman Law Corp. With all the legal expenses and time involved…
Double trouble for JAKKS Pacific: double locked by two ransomware groups
JAKKS Pacific, Inc. describes itself as leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of toys and consumer products sold throughout the world. The firm is headquartered in Santa Monica, California. Its proprietary brands include Fly Wheels®, Perfectly Cute®, ReDo Skateboard Co.®, X Power Dozer®, Disguise®, Weee-Do™ and a wide range of entertainment-inspired products. On December 8, JAKKS…
Hackers stole data from multiple electric utilities in recent ransomware attack
Sean Lyngaas reports: Hackers stole data belonging to multiple electric utilities in an October ransomware attack on a US government contractor that handles critical infrastructure projects across the country, according to a memo describing the hack obtained by CNN. […] The ransomware attack hit Chicago-based Sargent & Lundy, an engineering firm that has designed more…
Ca: Doctor’s records improperly disposed
Patient records from a newly closed medical practice were not properly disposed of the privacy commissioner has ruled. Dr. Lalita Malhotra, who retired earlier this year, failed to have all records shredded by a company that deals in secure shredding and some ended up whole in a recycling facility. “Dr. Malhotra states that she accepts…