What is the human cost of ransomware?

The heartbreaking loss of the infant at Springhill Medical Center, a direct result of the ransomware attack, is a stark reminder of the devastating impact of cybercrime on human lives. This tragedy underscores the dire need for healthcare institutions to make significant investments in cybersecurity measures and take proactive steps to prevent such incidents from happening. The loss of a life is an irreplaceable loss that cannot be ignored, and patient safety must remain the top priority of all healthcare organizations.

The hospital's failure to prioritize cybersecurity resulted in the tragic loss of a precious life, emphasizing the urgent need for all organizations to invest in preventative measures. Governments, businesses, and bureaucratic entities must prioritize cybersecurity as a national security issue to ensure the safety of citizens and customers.

In the end, the threat of ransomware attacks, hacking, and other cybercrimes will continue to loom large. It is up to organizations to take the necessary steps to protect themselves and their customers. Cybersecurity must be a top priority, not an afterthought. The stakes are too high to ignore.

The tragic loss of life due to the ransomware attack on Springhill Medical Center serves as a stark reminder of the deadly consequences of cybercrime. As we move further into the 21st century, it's becoming increasingly clear that cyberattacks can have real-world implications, including loss of life. In fact, in 2020 alone, 560 healthcare organizations were hit by ransomware attacks, resulting in over $20 billion in combined downtime. This represents a doubling of the number of attacks from the previous year, indicating a growing trend of cybercrime targeting vulnerable organizations. The devastating impact of these attacks cannot be ignored, and it's essential that all organizations prioritize cybersecurity to prevent future tragedies.

These attacks are devastating for hospitals, but the human cost is even worse. We know of one baby who died in Alabama as a result of a ransomware attack on a hospital. How many others are there we don’t know about? Cyberattacks aren’t catastrophes that happen in a digital vacuum; incidents like these should serve as a wake-up call for organizations. The consequences that come with not taking action are very real and very human.

Governments Step In to Address the Crisis

While there is an argument to be made that some governments are behind ransomware attacks, other governments are doing their best to step in and mitigate the damage. In 2021, the U.S. federal government was successful in recovering millions of dollars in ransomware payments. They also managed to put members of popular ransomware gangs behind bars. Though these measures are important, what they really show is that a focus on cybersecurity as a national security issue is long overdue.

In the end, ransomware, hacking, and troll shops are going to continue to do what they do regardless of whether or not they lose a few members. Unlike a snake, in these cases, the head or the tail grows right back. Take the group that attacked the Colonial Pipeline last year as one example. In May 2021, the pipeline found itself at the mercy of a ransomware cyberattack that caused a shutdown of their operations for five days, which resulted in a temporary fuel shortage along the East Coast. The group responsible for that attack called DarkSide, simply reformed into BlackMatter after law enforcement forced the shutdown of DarkSide.

What’s the takeaway here? Governments, hospitals, energy companies and many other businesses along with bureaucratic entities need to take ransomware attacks seriously. If cybersecurity isn’t one of your primary concerns, you could be vulnerable to attack. Learn more about how we can help on our website.