The FBI, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and Australian Cyber Security Centre issued recommendations to help critical infrastructure organizations protect their networks from ransomware attacks and data extortion by a cybercriminal group known as BianLian. 

“The BianLian group, unlike most other ransomware groups, seems to rely primarily on technical exploitation of remote access tools rather than phishing emails,” said John Riggi, AHA’s national advisor for cybersecurity and risk. “The BianLian group has also evolved its tactics to focus on data extortion — theft of sensitive data and threatening to publicize it unless a ransom is paid. The primary recommendations to mitigate this threat are ensuring all remote access software is strictly controlled, monitored and external access limited. As always, phishing-resistant multifactor authentication is a foundational cybersecurity practice, which should also be employed along with the other recommended mitigations contained in this alert.” 

For more information on this or other cyber and risk issues, contact Riggi at jriggi@aha.org. For the latest cyber and risk resources and threat intelligence, visit aha.org/cybersecurity

Related News Articles

Headline
The FBI’s Internet Criminal Complaint Center May 15 released an alert warning of a malicious text and voice messaging campaign involving impersonators…
Headline
In his latest AHA Cyber Intel blog, John Riggi, AHA national advisor for cybersecurity and risk, examines the state of cyber and physical threats in 2025 as…
Headline
Health care had more cyberthreats last year than any other critical infrastructure industry, according to the FBI's 2024 Internet Crime Report released April…
Headline
The National Security Agency April 23 released a report on operational technology systems that includes recommendations for security policies and technical…
Chairperson's File
Public
Cybersecurity and physical threats are unfortunately significant enterprise risks for health care, regardless of size or location. Every hospital, physician…
Headline
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency April 17 released guidance to reduce risks associated with a reported breach of Oracle cloud services.…