FBI issues alert on ransomware targeting financial transactions

Ransomware actors are very likely using significant financial events, such as mergers and acquisitions, to target and leverage victim companies for ransomware infections, the FBI said in an alert this week to the private sector. According to the alert, the actors research material public and nonpublic information about the victim prior to an attack, and threaten to disclose the information publicly to cause potential investor backlash if victims do not pay a ransom quickly. The alert includes recommendations and links to resources to help prevent, protect and respond to a ransomware attack.

John Riggi, AHA senior advisor for cybersecurity and risk, said, “Although we are not aware of specific health care organizations being targeted by ransomware gangs to disrupt the value of a health care-related merger or acquisition, certainly an intentional or unintentional negative business consequence could result if a health care entity involved in a pending transaction became victim to a cyberattack. Thus, it is equally as important to protect sensitive non-public business information from hackers as it is to protect intellectual property.  

For more information on this or other cyber and risk issues, contact Riggi at jriggi@aha.org.