Ransomware is malicious software that renders data and systems unusable until the targeted individual or organization pays a ransom. Find out more at Ransomware | Office of Information Security | Washington University in St. Louis (wustl.edu). Cybersecurity Awareness Month Test Your Knowledge Competition We invite you to show us what you know by entering our […]
By: Harrison Stites (class of 2022) Ransomware accounted for over 80 percent of the cybersecurity attacks in the education sector in 2020, according to the Verizon Data Breach Investigation Report. Healthcare organizations such as BJC (and, by extension, WashU) are significant targets for ransomware attacks because they work with Personal Health Information (PHI) and other […]
A little before 5 a.m. on May 7th, 2021, an employee at the Colonial Pipeline noticed a ransom note on their computer demanding cryptocurrency. This employee followed the company’s policies and procedures and immediately reported the situation. The Colonial Pipeline attack might be one of the largest and most impactful cyberattacks in history. It started when […]
Ransomware is a specific category of malware that causes harm to the computer and the computer system. The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency defines ransomware as “an ever-evolving form of malware designed to encrypt files on a device, rendering any files and the systems that rely on them unusable.” The threat actors (hackers) behind […]