Ransomware Attacks in the Healthcare Sector: What To Do

While the world fights against COVID-19, another parallel fight against another virus threatens the healthcare sector: ransomware. 

The pandemic revealed how vulnerable the healthcare sector really is when it comes to cyber security. 

Basically, ransomware is software that encrypts files on an infected computer and locks them up until a ransom fee is paid. 

Like a virus, ransomware can quickly spread and infect a whole network. And it can be just as deadly since infected computers prevent healthcare workers to access hospital systems.

Imagine an already strained hospital with no access to patients’ medical records or scans. Vital treatments are at risk of being delayed or mixed-up, ER becomes chaotic with a backlog, and so on.   

Not to mention that a ransomware attack directly violates HIPAA compliance to data privacy.

With ransomware now threatening hospitals and other healthcare institutions, what should these organizations do if they are targeted? Ransomware recovery experts lay out the best course of action ahead. 

Top Summary: Ransomware encrypts and holds data hostage in exchange for a payment. Cybercriminals saw the pandemic as the perfect opportunity to target hospitals’ systems. Healthcare ransomware can severely affect patients and hospitals must learn how to prevent ransomware. 

What is Ransomware? 

Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts a user’s important files. Hackers then demand payment in exchange for a decryption key so the files can be accessed again. 

Instead of cybercriminals fishing out financial information from their preys for money, the threat of data corruption or disclosure through a ransomware attack has proven to be more effective.

The FBI estimates that over 4,000 computers across the country have been infected daily by ransomware since 2016. 

Ransomware attacks represented about 50% of all healthcare data breaches during the first year of the pandemic. And even though healthcare ransomware costs more than any other industry, only 6% of a hospital organization’s budget is dedicated to cybersecurity, according to HIPAA Journal. 

How does Ransomware work? 

Ransomware typically spread through phishing schemes, where employees are tricked into downloading ransomware disguised as legitimate files. 

Ransomware can also be introduced into networks by way of exploiting vulnerabilities in unpatched software or hardware systems. When the ransomware is executed, it often will encrypt documents and program files before demanding a ransom fee in exchange for a decryption key. 

Ransomware differs from other types of malware because it will display messages or lock infected computers’ screens until users pay the ransom in full. 

Ransoms demanded by ransomware vary depending on how valuable an organization’s data is to its operations and livelihood. Most fees range between $300 and $1,000 per system. 

But according to National Security Institute, the average ransomware fee has increased since 2018, ranging from $ 5,000 to even $200,000.

Ransomware can also be programmed to encrypt an organization’s network-connected storage drives as well as the files on attached devices. 

In this case, ransoms would likely increase significantly and might even be totally unfeasible depending on what types of drives have been encrypted.

Summary: Ransomware has become a more sophisticated and effective type of extortion. The healthcare sector is one of the main targets. Without any ransomware prevention plan in place, victims are being demanded increasingly high payouts. 

How to Prevent Ransomware

The healthcare sector has always been criticized for its lack of cybersecurity guidelines. Ransomware attacks bring this issue into the spotlight. 

Ransomware, like WannaCry, can severely damage an organization’s data assets by encrypting their files and locking them away until a ransom fee is paid. 

When ransomware involves backed-up data, there may be no need to pay because much of that data can be recovered from backups. 

On the other hand, many in the security community say it’s unclear whether paying the ransom will release the decryption keys. The answer to this question could vary from Ransomware to Ransomware.

Therefore, backups are important, but establishing a ransomware protection protocol is even better. 

So how to prevent ransomware? Ransomware cannot typically infect a system without outside assistance from victims or employees – something that cyber security experts call social engineering. 

Ransomware Prevention & Awareness

The first line of defense against Ransomware is education. Both employees and members of the general public must be aware of newer types of Ransomware attacks. 

For organizations, this means continually educating employees on safe internet practices as well as updating systems with the latest patches from hardware manufacturers and software developers. 

Ransomware often targets vulnerabilities in operating systems which can leave your data at risk if those do not receive updates regularly. 

In every case of Ransomware, it is crucial to back up critical files as soon as they are created or modified – even if they may not always be encrypted by Ransomware – so that their loss does not translate into complete business failure.

Summary: As ransomware targets system vulnerabilities, the best ransomware prevention is awareness and backups. Healthcare organizations must allocate a budget to ransomware protection continuously since new ransomware variants appear every day. 

Ransomware Protection & Critical Measures

When it comes to data security, prevention must be closely followed by actionable ransomware protection. Here are the most critical measures to protect your network and database from ransomware attacks: 

1. Firewalls

The most important action against a ransomware attack is defense. An advanced firewall service will shield your network from any ransomware attempt, including current or new variants. 

Multi-layered security firewalls are the latest technology and offer the best ransomware protection. They provide endpoint security for operational systems, email and mobile access against malicious upload or phishing scams, for instance.

The healthcare sector must also look for a firewall service that will comply with HIPAA requirements. Firewall systems like Veritas, for example, provide ransomware protection for administrative data and patient records, as well as for increasing telemedicine and remote appointments. 

2. Safe Backup Systems

Regular backups are always a sound decision for hospitals, businesses, or individuals. However, in order to really avoid being left at the mercy of hackers in case your data is held hostage, is to store your backup in a safer system. 

Nowadays, hackers will encrypt your network AND your backup. So invest in a backup system that prevents ransomware as well and one that can scan files for it.

A versioning backup system that is triggered not only on a time basis but also at any file change will be the best ransomware protection too. Otherwise, you’ll only restore infected files from a vulnerable backup. 

3. Data Recovery Plan

Unfortunately, there are times that trying to outsmart relentless advanced ransomware attacks is not effective. Therefore a data recovery plan can’t be ruled out. A ransomware detection tool might come in handy to identify an attack or a data breach as soon as it happens. 

The earlier a ransomware is detected and its type identified, the faster recovery can be. Ransomware recovery services, as provided by SalvageData, can decrypt infected data in most cases. If not, our experienced experts can handle negotiations with hackers for you, avoiding further scams or complete data loss. 

Summary: As ransomware attacks become more sophisticated and more frequent, prevention might not be enough. Actionable ransomware protection measures, like shielding your network and connections with advanced firewall and backup system solutions, are more effective. A consultation with Ransomware Recovery professionals will eliminate threats and disruption. 

What to Do in Case of Ransomware Attack?

If a healthcare organization, or any type of business, becomes aware of a ransomware attack, all infected devices and drives need to be immediately disconnected from the network. 

The Ransomware should be contained to make sure it does not spread to other systems by way of the network, which could cause additional damage or infections. 

Ransomware payment should be avoided because there is no guarantee that you will receive decryption keys in return. 

Ransomware is often designed to remain quiet until all ransoms are paid so victims do not have much time to act before they lose their data. If Ransomware is unable to reach a primary server for ransom, then they become largely ineffective at encrypting files. 

Victims should immediately implement an incident response plan with cyber security professionals whenever ransomware compromises their network. This way, an organization can quickly contain and eliminate malware without risking further data loss. 

Ransomware attacks are already becoming more common and often lead to irreparable damages to data, hardware, software, and records. The aftermath can lead to significant downtime for your organization amidst reconstruction efforts. 

Ransomware is also continuously evolving in terms of the types of ransoms they demand as well as how they infect systems. 

Therefore organizations need cyber security professionals and ransomware recovery experts who stay up-to-date on the latest Ransomware trends and negotiation skills.

Summary: As soon as a ransomware attack is suspected, all infected devices must disconnect from the network to avoid further damage. Ransom payments are no guarantee of data decryption. Enlisting cyber security experts to assess encryption levels and negotiate ransoms if needed is the best ransomware protection. 

The healthcare sector can expect more and more sophisticated ransomware attacks in the future. With hospital activities and medical records at risk of disruption and data breach, poor cyber security measures can no longer be afforded. 

SalvageData engineers have years of experience dealing with encrypted data, as well as being HIPAA and GSA certified data recovery providers. Rely on our ransomware recovery experts to guide you through an attack, decrypt data, eliminate malware or even negotiate a ransom to sensible terms.