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United States: ransomware attacks to increase in 2021

2021-01-19T18:25:38.269Z


Ransomware computer attacks have infected more than 2,300 businesses, schools, hospitals and government agencies in 2020 in the United States alone, a professional report said on Tuesday that feared twice as many cases in 2021. To read also: Identity theft, the other "cyber scourge" for businesses These cyber attacks using "ransomware" are feared because they introduce malicious software that bl


Ransomware computer attacks have infected more than 2,300 businesses, schools, hospitals and government agencies in 2020 in the United States alone, a professional report said on Tuesday that feared twice as many cases in 2021.

To read also: Identity theft, the other "cyber scourge" for businesses

These cyber attacks using "ransomware" are feared because they introduce malicious software that blocks access to a site or computer until the victim sends a sum of money for a key to take back machine control.

According to an annual study by the computer security company Emsisoft, published in a blog on Tuesday, 113 public authorities or government institutions suffered these ransom demands in 2020, as in 2019. Counties in Pennsylvania or Oregon, for example, had to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to recover their data.

"The fact that the government has not improved its security and remains so vulnerable is very worrying"

, worries the study which estimates at 913 million dollars the cost of these attacks on the public agencies alone.

In the health sector, 560 establishments were targeted in 80 attacks last year.

The most widespread attack hit the Universal Health Services system, which operates 400 hospitals across the country.

“The impact of the attacks has been alarming: ambulances have been hijacked, treatments for cancer patients have been delayed, medical records have been temporarily inaccessible and in some cases permanently lost, while hundreds of staff have been lost. laid off because of the disruptions, ”

recalls Emsisoft.

In some cases, sensitive information has been stolen and published on the internet.

"2021, a record year for cybercriminals"

Nearly 1,700 universities and schools were also the victims of these hacks in 84 attacks last year.

Among them, the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) had to pay a ransom of $ 1.4 million to regain control of its data.

In the private sector, 1,300 companies were targeted.

In 2021, "ransomware" attacks will multiply, Emsisoft fears:

"Unless important steps are taken, we predict 2021 will be a banner year for cybercriminals

.

"

"Although the utility knows it is in the crosshairs of ransomware groups, statistics indicate that little, if any, progress has been made in improving the security of the sector,"

the company further regrets. computer security.

"We expect there will be more cases of data theft in 2021, probably at least twice as many,"

the group assures.

Source: lefigaro

All business articles on 2021-01-19

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