Latest cybersecurity reporting from selected sources.

iRhythm disclosed a cyberattack via third-party apps where patient and proprietary data was stolen, followed by a ransom demand. iRhythm Technologies is a U.S.-based digital healthcare company specializing in remote cardiac monitoring and arrhythmia detection. Its best-known product is the Zio, a wearable patch that continuously records a patient’s heart rhythm for up to several […]

More Than 100,000 Affected by Hack Detected on Dec. 30The New Zealand government is probing a year-end ransomware hack of private healthcare service provider Manage My Health that impacted thousands of patients. Digital extortion group Kazu has claimed responsibility and threatened to leak the data on Jan. 15 unless it receives a $60,000 ransom.

DOJ: Suspects Hit 5 Firms, Including 3 in Healthcare, Netted $1.3M in Ransom MoneyThree former employees of two cybersecurity firms stand accused of using BlackCat ransomware in a conspiracy to extort five U.S. companies, including three in the healthcare sector. One of the victim companies paid nearly $1.3 million to the attackers, U.S. federal prosecutors said.

Ransomware is malicious software designed to block access to a computer system or encrypt data until a ransom is paid. This cyberattack is one of the most prevalent and damaging threats in the digital landscape, affecting individuals, businesses, and critical infrastructure worldwide

U.S. prosecutors last week levied criminal hacking charges against 19-year-old U.K. national Thalha Jubair for allegedly being a core member of Scattered Spider, a prolific cybercrime group blamed for extorting at least $115 million in ransom payments from victims. The charges came as Jubair and an alleged co-conspirator appeared in a London court to face accusations of hacking into and extorting several large U.K. retailers, the London transit system, and healthcare providers in the United States.

UK and US Charge Suspects With Hitting Transport for London, Healthcare, OthersTwo English teenagers have been charged with disrupting London's transport network as part of a Scattered Spider cyberattack. One of the suspects has also been accused by the U.S. of helping to attack 120 other victims, generating $115 million in ransom payments.

Firm Admits Paying Ransom in Exchange of Hacker's Promise to Delete Stolen InfoTwo Florida-based law firms with offices in other states are notifying 282,100 people whose healthcare and other information was potentially compromised in separate data theft incidents. One of the firms admitted to paying a ransom to prevent its data from being leaked on the dark web.

Labour Government Also Backs Ransomware Payment Clearance and ReportingThe British government vowed Tuesday to proceed with a proposed ransomware payment ban for critical infrastructure organizations such as the National Health Service and to press forward on a mandate for other businesses to notify authorities in advance of paying out a ransom.

Horizon Healthcare RCM Hints at Paying Ransom in Data Theft IncidentHorizon Healthcare RCM is the latest revenue cycle management software vendor to report a health data breach involving ransomware and data theft. The firm's breach notification statement suggests that the company paid a ransom to prevent the disclosure of its stolen information.

Cybersecurity Wonks Find Fault With Home Office Ransomware ProposalsA collection of British cybersecurity policy wonks poured cold water over a British government proposal to outlaw ransom payments by government agencies and from regulated operators of critical infrastructure. A ban wouldn't likely represent a significant blow to ransomware profits.

FBI Ties Group to Triple-Extortion Tactics Involving Follow-On Ransom DemandsThe Medusa ransomware group has been continuing to pummel critical infrastructure sectors across America, warns a joint U.S. government alert. The FBI said the group's tactics include triple extortion, meaning it continues to shake victims down for a ransom, even after they've paid.

Symantec found that Medusa has listed almost 400 victims on its data leaks site since early 2023, demanding ransom payments as high as $15m

Committee Witnesses Favor Resilience Over BansThe British government should focus on building operational resilience rather than imposing ransom payment bans, security experts told a parliamentary committee. The British government in January floated a ban on public sector and critical infrastructure owners paying digital extortion.

British Government Proposals Also Include Payment Bans for Critical InfrastructureBanning ransom payments by public sector and critical infrastructure entities, notifying the government of any intent to pay a ransom, and reporting incidents to authorities comprise three counter-ransomware initiatives proposed by the British government. Which ones will pass muster?

New Law Calls for Better Reporting, Securing Devices and Critical InfrastructureThe Australian government's proposed cybersecurity legislation passed both houses of the Parliament on Monday, formalizing the government's strategy to boost ransomware payment reporting, mandate basic cybersecurity standards for connected devices and enhance critical infrastructure security.

Even after the ransom is paid, such attacks lead to spikes in strokes and heart attacks and increased wait times for patients.

Microsoft: Ransomware-as-a-Service Group Keeps Shifting Malware to Avoid DetectionThreat actors tracked as "Vanilla Tempest" - and also known as Vice Society - appear to be changing up the ransomware they use to attack on U.S. healthcare organizations. Likely in a move to avoid detection, the ransomware-as-a-service group has shifted to INC Ransom malware, according to Microsoft.

Would paying a ransom - or better security - have been cheaper and safer? A US healthcare giant will pay out $65 million to settle a class-action lawsuit brought by its own patients after ransomware crooks stole their data – including their nude photographs – and published at least some of them online.…

Also: Another Ivanti Zero-Day? And FBI Calls for Strengthening DMARC PoliciesThis week, REvil hacker sentenced; ZDI saw possible Ivanti-zero-day; FBI said to strengthen DMARC policies; Okta saw surge in credential stuffing attacks; French hospital refused to pay ransom; JPMorgan, debt collection agency and healthcare company were breached; and ex-NSA employee was sentenced.

CEO Tells Congress Attackers Gained Access Via a Citrix Portal; What Happened NextDeciding to pay cybercriminals a ransom in the attack on Change Healthcare was one of the most difficult choices UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty ever faced, according to written testimony ahead of two congressional hearings this week on the disruptive Change Healthcare mega-hack.