Articles of interest from the week of January 4, 2021

Healthcare Industry Witnessed 45% Spike in Cyber Attacks Since Nov 20

According to a new report published by Check Point Research today and shared with The Hacker News, this increase has made the sector the most targeted industry by cybercriminals when compared to an overall 22% increase in cyberattacks across all industry sectors worldwide seen during the same time period. Ransomware cases, in particular, have capitalized on the coronavirus pandemic, not least because it boosts the likelihood that hospitals will meet attackers' demands to quickly recover access to critical systems and provide care to patients. The University of California paid the hackers 116 bitcoin ($1.14 million) after a NetWalker attack on its systems back in June. (By Ravie Lakshmanan, The Hacker News) Ingalls: No one plans to fail; however, failing to plan will often lead to a disaster when it comes to cybersecurity risk management. Depending on your organization’s size and stakeholders (regulators, shareholders, etc.), having a bad plan can cost your organization even more than if it had no plan at all! We've seen many different versions of breach victims with no plan, good plans, bad plans, and half a plan or less. Our experience in preparing the right plan for your organization can mean the difference between resolving a serious problem with little to no impact or having a minor issue balloon into shareholder lawsuits, regulatory fines, and other nightmares. Contact us today to discuss how you can prepare for successfully managing a cybersecurity crisis by having the right Incident Response Plan.

New Year, New Ransomware: Babuk Locker Targets Large Corporations

Only a few days into the new year, one of the first new ransomware strains of 2021 has been discovered. Dubbed Babuk Locker, the ransomware appears to have successfully compromised five companies thus far, according to new research. While Babuk has some hallmark characteristics that range from unsophisticated to run-of-the-mill, it also touts more novel tricks, specifically when it comes to encryption and the abuse of legitimate Windows features (By Lindsey O’Donnell, Threatpost) Ingalls: The current data breach landscape speaks to the critical need for businesses to take a proactive approach to cybersecurity in order to be positioned for early detection and fast response. To help fight cyberattacks, Ingalls’ offers Managed Detection and Response (MDR), our MDR offers advanced anomaly detection, threat hunting and sophisticated response guidance utilizing a defense-in-depth approach.

Solarwinds Hackers Had Access to Over 3,000 US DOJ Email Accounts

The US Department of Justice (DoJ) said that the attackers behind the SolarWinds supply chain attack have gained access to roughly 3% of the department's Office 365 email inboxes. The Justice Department currently employs over 115,000 people [1, 2] which translates to around 3450 potentially breached mailboxes. (By Sergiu Gatlan, BleepingComputer) Ingalls: Our Managed Detection and Response (MDR) service is designed for advanced detection, threat hunting, and response guidance. Unlike a traditional Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP), our service is geared toward proactive prevention. This includes our in-house Phishing Email Helpdesk (PEH) where we analyze your suspicious email and provide you with detailed recommendations. 

A COVID-19 Shot for $150? Online Scams Surge as Slow Vaccine Rollout Frustrates

As millions of people await their turn to get a COVID-19 vaccine that could be months away, scammers online, in emails and on messaging apps are luring victims with claims they can deliver shots within days for as little as $150. (By Tina Bellon, Reuters) Ingalls: At a time when cybersecurity is more strategic to businesses than ever before, determining one’s cybersecurity risk management strategy is crucial. Our Master Risk Control: Pick A Cybersecurity Risk Management Strategy blog post provides some valuable insight on the different options.

5 Industries At Risk For Cyberthreats During COVID-19

The coronavirus pandemic has drastically changed people’s everyday lives and limited their options. However, cybercriminals have capitalized on this unprecedented situation. Here are five sectors at an increased risk of cyberattacks during COVID-19. (By Devin Partida, ISBuzz News) Ingalls: We believe it is important that there are affordable and effective cybersecurity solutions for organizations of every size. We offer best-in-class information security solutions suitable for the largest enterprise companies at a price point that is affordable for SMBs. Request a demo for your company today.