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It has been quite frankly a terrible week for those across the healthcare sector.

Multiple different healthcare organizations have suffered ransomware attacks, each with widespread ramifications.

A hospital room with a bed and two lights hanging above it. The room is dark.

This triggers when attackers lock up sensitive data and hold it hostage until the organization pays a ransom.

Due to the amount of data stolen, thousands of people could be impacted.

On May 8, a seriouscybersecurity incident impacting the Ascension hospital networkwas reported.

A laptop with digitally inserted hack warnings around it

These are both tasks usually undertaken by the hospital’s computer data pipe.

Ascension is currently investigating the cyber attack, and has said that some systems continue to be disrupted.

Ransomware gang extorts NRS Healthcare

Another UK-based ransomware attack was that of mobility aid manufacturer NRS Healthcare.

A post on the dark web from RansomHub. It reads: “NRS Healthcare is a supplier of mobility equpment and disability aids, and other medical equipment. Provides personal care aids, moving and handling aids, mobility and access aids, home care and daily living aids, sensors and electronic caids, paediatrics, dementia care, exercise, and assessment, infection prevention, bariatic, bathing, pressure care and therapeutic resources. Purchase can be done online through their portal (marketplace) and provide home delivery service. On 30th of March 2024 the NRS Healthcare company was attacked with ransomware. More than 600k private documents was [sic] downloaded, including: Accounting, HR, Financial reports, Reception, Contracts and much more. Data size: 578Gb. Company itseld has offices in almost every state of United Kingdom. Every office was targetd and attacked. The data breach proof available via download link. We publish the file [link]. To resolve this data breach and obtain the system decryption key, NHS Healthcare need to contact us as soon as possible."

This week saw more information about this attack coming to light.

The attack, which took place on March 29, took all ofNRS Healthcare’s services offline.

The information stolen allegedly includes over 600,000 private documents including contracts, accounting documents, and financial reports.

A laptop with a red screen with a white skull on it with the message: “RANSOMWARE. All your files are encrypted."

Why have there been so many healthcare ransomware attacks?

Healthcare organizations hold a lot ofveryimportant, confidential, and sensitive information.

With this being said, this is why implementing good cybersecurity is so important for these healthcare organizations.

Take theChange Healthcare cyber attackfrom February of this year, for example.