FBI, German cybersecurity authority warn of attacks on health services
Conti ransomware attacks compromised at least 400 public and health organizations worldwide during the last year. The amount of ransom varies, and can reach tens of millions
Mandi Kogosowski
| 24/05/2021
Photo: BIGSTOCK/Copyright: ngad
The cybercriminal organization that uses Conti ransomware attacked at least 16 health networks and emergency health services, as well as law enforcement authorities and municipalities during the last year in the U.S. alone, leading to at least 290 organizations being victimized, according to an alert issued by the FBI. At least 100 organizations elsewhere in the world were attacked during this period, meaning that there were a total of more than 400 ransomware attacks by the same group, including the one that shut down Ireland's health system about 10 days ago.
The FBI said that the ransom amounts demanded by the hackers vary, but some of the recent demands reached $25 million. The government of Ireland, whose health system was completely shut down about 10 days ago from a Conti attack, received a demand to pay $20 million (and refused to pay, according to a statement by the government).
Meanwhile, the head of Germany's cybersecurity authority, Arne Schonbohm, expressed concern that the German health system is at high risk of being hit by such attacks. In an interview he gave to the Zeit online newspaper, he said that during the last five years clinics throughout Germany have been hit by ransomware attacks, and that companies and hospitals are at higher risk than in the past.
Conti ransomware attacks compromised at least 400 public and health organizations worldwide during the last year. The amount of ransom varies, and can reach tens of millions
Photo: BIGSTOCK/Copyright: ngad
The cybercriminal organization that uses Conti ransomware attacked at least 16 health networks and emergency health services, as well as law enforcement authorities and municipalities during the last year in the U.S. alone, leading to at least 290 organizations being victimized, according to an alert issued by the FBI. At least 100 organizations elsewhere in the world were attacked during this period, meaning that there were a total of more than 400 ransomware attacks by the same group, including the one that shut down Ireland's health system about 10 days ago.
The FBI said that the ransom amounts demanded by the hackers vary, but some of the recent demands reached $25 million. The government of Ireland, whose health system was completely shut down about 10 days ago from a Conti attack, received a demand to pay $20 million (and refused to pay, according to a statement by the government).
Meanwhile, the head of Germany's cybersecurity authority, Arne Schonbohm, expressed concern that the German health system is at high risk of being hit by such attacks. In an interview he gave to the Zeit online newspaper, he said that during the last five years clinics throughout Germany have been hit by ransomware attacks, and that companies and hospitals are at higher risk than in the past.
