Ransomware hits Harvard Pilgrim
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, a large health insurance company in the United States, was hit by a ransomware attack on April 11, 2023. The attack affected the company’s email system and its ability to process claims. As a result, 2.5 million people were affected by the attack.
The hackers behind the attack demanded a ransom payment of $7.5 million in Bitcoin. Harvard Pilgrim refused to pay the ransom, and the hackers eventually released the data. However, the company is still working to restore its systems and services.
This attack is a reminder of the growing threat of ransomware attacks on healthcare organizations. Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts a victim’s data and demands a ransom payment in exchange for the decryption key. Healthcare organizations are particularly vulnerable to ransomware attacks because they store sensitive patient data.
There are a number of things that healthcare organizations can do to strengthen their data security and protect themselves from ransomware attacks. These include:
- Implementing strong security measures, such as multi-factor authentication and data encryption.
- Educating employees about cybersecurity threats and how to spot and report suspicious activity.
- Having a plan in place to respond to a ransomware attack. This plan should include steps to restore data, notify patients, and investigate the attack.
By taking these steps, healthcare organizations can reduce their risk of being hit by a ransomware attack.
In addition to the above, healthcare organizations can also consider the following measures to strengthen their data security:
- Regularly backing up data. This will help to minimize the impact of a ransomware attack if it does occur.
- Using a managed security service provider (MSSP). An MSSP can provide 24/7 monitoring and security expertise, which can help to detect and respond to threats quickly.
- Staying up-to-date on the latest cybersecurity threats. This can be done by subscribing to security newsletters and blogs, or by attending security conferences.
By taking these steps, healthcare organizations can help to protect their patients’ data from ransomware attacks.
