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NotPetya Malware Finds New Targets in US Healthcare

Posted: July 20, 2017 to Cybersecurity.

Tags: Malware, Ransomware, Data Breach

NotPetya, malware that was designed to permanently damage hard drives, has impacted companies providing medical transcription services in over 60 countries, and has officially disrupted hospitals in the American Midwest. Nuance Communications, a Burlington, MA-based company that provides voice transcription services for healthcare providers primarily located in the Wisconsin and other Midwest states, announced yesterday that it had fallen victim to NotPetya. The company grew suspicious of a cyberattack after several clients took to Twitter on June 28, 2017, to complain about issues they were having with the Dragon Medical 360 and other transcription services. Nuance was quick to react, releasing a statement on their website and Twitter feeds, to let their clients know they were taking measures “to contain the incident and assess the extent of the impact on its network.” The bad news? As of this past Saturday, July 15, 2017, the company had not yet been able to repair the damages. The good news? It appears to be an operational attack, only. It does not appear that any of their patients’ private data has been compromised. While parts of the company have been essentially shut down, Nuance has been offering its customers alternate software operations while they are in the process of repairing the damaged network. Still, Nuance is reeling from the impact; clambering to find alternate solutions for its loyal customers, and leaving them with a tremendous backlog. One such customer, Aurora Health Care who is a provider based out of Wisconsin, was prepared. They were able to utilize backup systems they had in place, and their patients were not negatively impacted by the virus. Since stepping onto the scene this year, NotPetya has attacked over 2,000 companies globally. While it has also reared its ugly head in such countries as Brazil and Denmark, the majority of attacks have occurred in Ukraine, leaving many to speculate that Russian hackers are the responsible party.

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About the Author

Craig Petronella, CEO and Founder of Petronella Technology Group
CEO, Founder & AI Architect, Petronella Technology Group

Craig Petronella founded Petronella Technology Group in 2002 and has spent more than 30 years working at the intersection of cybersecurity, AI, compliance, and digital forensics. He holds the CMMC Registered Practitioner credential (RP-1372) issued by the Cyber AB, is an NC Licensed Digital Forensics Examiner (License #604180-DFE), and completed MIT Professional Education programs in AI, Blockchain, and Cybersecurity. Craig also holds CompTIA Security+, CCNA, and Hyperledger certifications.

He is an Amazon #1 Best-Selling Author of 15+ books on cybersecurity and compliance, host of the Encrypted Ambition podcast (95+ episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon), and a cybersecurity keynote speaker with 200+ engagements at conferences, law firms, and corporate boardrooms. Craig serves as Contributing Editor for Cybersecurity at NC Triangle Attorney at Law Magazine and is a guest lecturer at NCCU School of Law. He has served as a digital forensics expert witness in federal and state court cases involving cybercrime, cryptocurrency fraud, SIM-swap attacks, and data breaches.

Under his leadership, Petronella Technology Group has served 2,500+ clients, maintained a zero-breach record among compliant clients, earned a BBB A+ rating every year since 2003, and been featured as a cybersecurity authority on CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, and WRAL. The company leverages SOC 2 Type II certified platforms and specializes in AI implementation, managed cybersecurity, CMMC/HIPAA/SOC 2 compliance, and digital forensics for businesses across the United States.

CMMC-RP NC Licensed DFE MIT Certified CompTIA Security+ Expert Witness 15+ Books
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