Ahmedabad: “Ransomware attacks on healthcare delivery outfits are increasing in frequency and sophistication over the past year, which is a disturbing trend,” said cyber security evangelist Manish Thakar, while interacting with students at a nursing institute on Drive-In Road on Saturday.
He said cybercriminals appear to be depending on two broad types of ransomware strategies: those aiming to steal and sell patient’s medical data and those aiming to inflict maximum damage in hope of a ransom payout. Thakar was interacting with students as part of the Gujarat CID (crime) cyber cell’s awareness drive.
He told TOI that cybercriminals are collaborating on the dark web to create new malware. Thakar is a cyber security officer for a multinational company in the city. During the hour-long session he gave a brief introduction to types of cybercrime prevalent such as online threats, stalking, cyber bullying, sextortion, hacking, fraud, phishing attacks, e-SIM swapping and others. “Cybercrime thrives on three pillars: greed, fear, and laziness of victims. Better cyber hygiene of devices, presence of mind while interacting with strangers on the phone, via chat or email is crucial. Report cybercrime to police on the 1930 helpline in the first hour,” said Thakar.
Cybercrime PSI Dhaval Shukal said this allows cops to freeze accounts of criminals before they withdraw the money.