Data extortion attempts signal new era for ransomware tactics

Ransomware attacks on healthcare organizations have evolved to include data extortion attempts, with 97 organizations falling victim in 2020, according to a report from Crowdstrike. This marks a 580% increase from pre-pandemic times. The healthcare sector is the fifth most targeted for extortion attempts globally. Crowdstrike researchers noted that data extortion has become the most lucrative ransomware method, with the COVID-19 pandemic accelerating this shift. However, healthcare is ranked fifth on Crowdstrike’s list of industries targeted for extortion attempts, behind industrials and engineering, manufacturing, technology, and retail.