Under cyber attack: The AIIMS ransomware attack is just a reminder how vulnerable organisations can be
Cybercrimes are rising both in numbers and sophistication. The latest to find itself on the receiving end was the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi, which was hit by a ransomware attack on November 23, rendering its servers non-functional for about two weeks.
As the name might suggest, a ransomware attack is malware in which cybercriminals encrypt data and demand ransom for unlocking the same. In this case, they asked for Rs 200 crore in cryptocurrencies. Although the investigation is on, the minister of state for IT called it “a deliberate and targeted effort”.
Also Read: After AIIMS, Safdarjung Hospital reports cyberattack but impact may not be as severe; here’s why
Not just AIIMS but the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) also faced several unsuccessful hacking attempts on November 30. Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital, too, came under similar attacks, but the impact was limited.
Although the cyberattack at AIIMS brought the focus to cybersecurity, this is not the only ransomware attack to have been perpetrated in the recent past.
Spicejet attack
In May this year, low-fare airline Spicejet reported a ransomware attack that delayed several flights by up to six hours. “Certain SpiceJet systems faced an attempted ransomware attack last night that impacted and slowed down morning flight departures today,” it said in a statement then. Several passengers vented their anger on social media claiming many had to sit on the plane for hours. Although the attack was thwarted by the airline within hours, it was not revealed what the hackers demanded or what kind of malware affected its systems.
WannaCry
In May 2017, multiple companies the world over were attacked by the WannaCry malware. The malware was so fast-spreading that within two days, it affected over 200,000 in about 150 countries. The hackers demanded ransom in bitcoin.
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The companies impacted included Honda, Renault, Nissan Motors, FedEx, China National Petroleum, Petrobras, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, along with the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS). In…
