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Healthcare Industry Rocked by Major Hack

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Apr 2024

Healthcare data is some of the most sensitive data in existence, but a major hack has just affected up to 15 billion records.

Change Healthcare, who provide revenue and payment services for healthcare providers and patients, has announced that its systems have been compromised by threat actors. With Change Healthcare processing around 15 billion transactions a year, this represents a major attack. And the impact has already been felt. Healthcare providers have been struggling to charge for their services, while patients have been struggling to get their prescriptions issued. It’s a nightmare scenario for all involved and underlines the effect malware can have.

How Did Change Healthcare Get Hacked?

The precise details of how Change Healthcare was hacked has not, as yet, been revealed. However, we do know it was carried out by a ransomware group which goes by the names of ALPHV or BlackCat. Naturally, their trademark attack style involves ransomware, and it’s most likely that this was utilized in the Change Healthcare attack. With ransomware typically encrypting data, this is highly damaging for any service handling healthcare data. By encrypting patient records, the hackers would be severing a crucial flow of information.

The attack came on the 21^st February 2024, and Change Healthcare took down their systems on the same day. A week later, BlackCat announced they had been behind the attack. Details of a $22 million payment to the ransomware groups have also been revealed, although Change Healthcare are yet to confirm this was made by themselves. Prescription claim submissions and payment systems have recently been reinstated by Change Healthcare, but full access to their systems is unlikely to be restored until mid-March.

Who is BlackCat?

BlackCat has been active online since 2021 and, since then, has launched a series of audacious attacks. The group was linked to the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack in 2021, and it also took responsibility for the MGM Casino attack in 2023. Headlines such as these didn’t go unnoticed, and in December 2023, the US Department of Justice set about disrupting BlackCat’s activities. Clearly, though, the resulting Change Healthcare attack has demonstrated how BlackCat was unharmed by this resistance.

Staying Safe from Ransomware

The threat of ransomware is well known, but the Change Healthcare attack is a big deal and acts as an important reminder to stay vigilant. With this in mind, we’re going to show you the best ways to stay safe from ransomware:

Regular software updates: ransomware often takes control of IT infrastructures due to software vulnerabilities. Accordingly, you need to make sure automatic updates are activated on your operating system. This ensures your software is updated as soon as an update is available, preventing you from running a network with open doors for threat actors.
Employee training: your employees are one of your most powerful forms of defense against ransomware threats. Therefore, regular training on cybersecurity threats such as identifying phishing emails, malicious websites, and understanding how to report cybersecurity incidents is vital. With this in place, you can rest assured your network is as secure as possible.
Regular, isolated backups: you need to regularly back up critical data and ensure that backups are stored in a secure, isolated location. Automated backup solutions can help ensure consistency and reliability in the event of your data being encrypted by ransomware.

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

Hello XD Ransomware is no Laughing Matter

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Jun 2022

The Hello XD ransomware was first spotted in the digital wild back in November 2021, but recent research indicates that it’s becoming more virulent.

There’s no such as ‘good’ ransomware, but it’s not unreasonable to describe Hello XD as ‘disastrous’ due to its enhanced capabilities. Whereas, previously, Hello XD focused its efforts on the standard ransomware practice of encrypting files, its evolved form now includes a backdoor feature. This enhanced functionality allows the transfer of data from infected PCs to external sources. Combined with its ransomware feature, this new form of Hello XD represents a huge security risk.

Ransomware is a highly problematic attack, and it’s one which your organization needs to avoid at all costs. Hello XD is the latest in a long line of ransomware attacks and, as ever, it could save you a fortune by understanding how it operates.

Hello XD Steps Up Its Game

Spread through various phishing techniques, Hello XD operates in the following manner once it arrives on a PC:

Hello XD’s first step is to disable shadow copy capabilities, this means that system snapshots cannot be saved or accessed. System recovery, therefore, can’t be used to counter the impact of Hello XD.

The infected system’s hard drive is then encrypted by Hello XD, all files are encrypted with a .hello extension and rendered inaccessible.

A ransom note is issued to the victim through a text file which instructs them to communicate with the threat actors through the TOX chat system. Featuring strong end-to-end encryption, TOX provides a cloak of secrecy for the hackers while they communicate with their victims.

Hello XD’s final move is to use its backdoor functionality – a program named Microbackdor – to steal files, wipe any evidence of the PC being compromised and execute remote commands.

Clearly, Hello XD packs a powerful punch and has the capability to bring your organizations IT operations to a halt. It is believed that Hello XD has been designed by X4K, a Russian-speaking hacker who has been advertising his wares on various hacking forums. It’s also likely that X4K will enhance Hello XD’s capabilities even further for future attacks, so it’s crucial you remain alert.

How Do You Say Goodbye to Hello XD?

The best way to avoid falling victim to Hello XD is by practicing the following:

Understand phishing techniques: Hello XD, and many other forms of ransomware, use phishing strategies such as mass emails to snare their victims. Emails, for example, which instill a sense of urgency over financial matters can be used to encourage users to open malicious attachments. However, if your employees understand the tell-tale signs of social engineering, they will be better placed to avoid falling victim to phishing attacks.

Keep backups offline: it’s essential that you keep backups of your data and system snapshots offline to retain control over your data. While this will not stop a ransomware attack, it does provide your organization with a solution if they are attacked. A threat actor will be unable to encrypt offline files, and this ensures that you can restore your data without paying a ransom.

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

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