The FBI, along with the National Security Agency, Cyber National Mission Force and United Kingdom’s National Cyber Security Centre, today released a joint agency advisory on cyber operations by the Russian Federation’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), also known as APT29, Midnight Blizzard, Cozy Bear, and the Dukes, targeting U.S. and global entities. The agencies recommend prioritizing rapid patch deployment and keeping software up to date to protect against cyberattacks.

“This alert highlights the SVR’s aggressive targeting of U.S. critical infrastructure for espionage and possible future offensive cyber operations,’ said John Riggi, AHA national advisor for cybersecurity and risk. “Although health care is not cited as being intentionally targeted by this SVR campaign, it is noted that any entity could become a target of opportunity if it has internet-facing vulnerabilities. The SVR takes advantage of opportunistic tactics to host malicious infrastructure, conduct follow-on operations from compromised accounts, or attempt to pivot to other networks on unprotected victim infrastructure. To mitigate this threat and other types of cyberattacks, such as ransomware attacks, it is imperative that health care entities prioritize patching internet-facing vulnerabilities, employ multi-factor authentication and follow the voluntary cybersecurity performance goals.”

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

Related News Articles

Perspective
Public
This week, the FBI issued an urgent warning to all users — including hospitals — of a critical security soft spot within Oracle’s E-Business Suite, stating “…
Headline
The Health Sector Coordinating Council Oct. 7 released its Sector Mapping and Risk Toolkit, created to help health care providers and other organizations…
Headline
The AHA Oct. 6 released a Cybersecurity Advisory urging immediate action against a critical Oracle E-Business Suite vulnerability that is remotely exploitable…
Headline
The AHA has launched an enhanced Cybersecurity and Risk webpage designed to help health care organizations strengthen their defenses against emerging cyber and…
Headline
A Health-ISAC (Information Sharing and Analysis Center) bulletin released Oct. 1 warns of a recently released LockBit 5.0 ransomware variant that poses a…
Headline
Fernando Martinez, Ph.D., chief digital officer at the Texas Hospital Association, shares how Texas and the THA are building regional resilience through cyber…