ALPHV/BlackCat, the Russian-speaking group of criminal hackers, has crossed all ethical boundaries with their latest act of cybercrime.
The group released nude photos of cancer patients after attacking a US hospital with ransomware. The health center refused to pay the ransom, which prompted the hackers to resort to this heinous act. The cybercriminals demanded a sum of 1.5 million dollars, making this one of their most audacious attacks to date.
This is not the first time that ALPHV/BlackCat has engaged in such reprehensible activities. The group has targeted 77 organizations between October and December 2021, according to a report by TrendMicro. They rank second in the list of the most active gangs, just behind Lockbit. The group has also adopted ransomware as a service to maximize its profits. They rent out their malware to associates who carry out attacks and pay a commission after the ransom is paid.
“Because your hypocritical leaders have told the media that patient data comes first, but refuse to pay us, we will release more and more confidential data every week. Photos of patients and all their data, medical history, databases, documents, etc. Your entire internal structure corrupted and more. We are ready to start! We will continue to do so until we have released a full 1 TB listing”
Blackcat Ransomware Group
Hospitals are a prime target for ALPHV/BlackCat, given the weak protection of their computer systems and the lucrative resale value of medical data. This attack is a new low for the group. Cancer patients are already going through an immense amount of pain, and they do not deserve to be violated in this manner. Such cybercrimes not only harm individuals but also erode trust in the healthcare system.
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It is imperative to take strict measures to prevent such attacks from occurring in the future. Cybersecurity measures need to be bolstered, and hospitals must invest in robust systems to safeguard patient data. It is high time that governments and organizations take a serious stance against cybercrime.
In conclusion, the ALPHV/BlackCat group has once again displayed their malicious intent with their latest attack. The release of nude photos of cancer patients is a new low for the group, and it is essential that we take preventive measures to curb such criminal activities. We urge our readers to read more on this topic and stay informed about the latest developments in the world of cybersecurity.