HHS HCCIC cybersecurity alert: New Ryuk ransomware quickly racking up damage

The Ryuk ransomware strain, similar to the SamSam virus, has been on the rise since the beginning of August, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services. Despite not being technically advanced, Ryuk is incredibly targeted and destructive. The hackers behind Ryuk perform extensive network mapping and credential collection before launching attacks, causing over $640,000 in damage so far. The virus contains components of Bitpaymer and Hermes, the latter of which has been associated with North Korean hacking group Lazarus. Specific recommendations have been made to protect against Ryuk attacks.