The Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Division of Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) issued a health care and public health sector notification this week entitled “Ransomware Activity Targeting the Healthcare and Public Health Sector (Update 2),” which was co-authored by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to provide a situation update on the threat of ransomware to the health care sector. [see previous blog post].

According to the Alert, “some recent healthcare sector victims have experienced very short periods of time between initial compromise and activation – even under a few hours. CISA, FBI and HHS urge health delivery organizations and other HPH sector entities to work towards enduring and operationally sustainable protections against ransomware threats both now and in the future.”

The risk mitigation measures the notice suggests were provided in the joint aler from October 28, 2020, which included “the use of Trickbot, BazarLoader, and other techniques to eventually deploy a ransomware (like Ryuk) for extortion and financial gain.”

The update alerts health care providers that “the threat from ransomware is ongoing and entities should develop effective deterrent procedures while maintaining effective care delivery.”

Photo of Linn Foster Freedman Linn Foster Freedman

Linn Freedman practices in data privacy and security law, cybersecurity, and complex litigation. She is a member of the Business Litigation Group and the Financial Services Cyber-Compliance Team, and chair’s the firm’s Data Privacy and Security Team. Linn focuses her practice on…

Linn Freedman practices in data privacy and security law, cybersecurity, and complex litigation. She is a member of the Business Litigation Group and the Financial Services Cyber-Compliance Team, and chair’s the firm’s Data Privacy and Security Team. Linn focuses her practice on compliance with all state and federal privacy and security laws and regulations. She counsels a range of public and private clients from industries such as construction, education, health care, insurance, manufacturing, real estate, utilities and critical infrastructure, marine and charitable organizations, on state and federal data privacy and security investigations, as well as emergency data breach response and mitigation. Linn is an Adjunct Professor of the Practice of Cybersecurity at Brown University and an Adjunct Professor of Law at Roger Williams University School of Law.  Prior to joining the firm, Linn served as assistant attorney general and deputy chief of the Civil Division of the Attorney General’s Office for the State of Rhode Island. She earned her J.D. from Loyola University School of Law and her B.A., with honors, in American Studies from Newcomb College of Tulane University. She is admitted to practice law in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Read her full rc.com bio here.