News and Updates on Information Technology

United States – eResearch Technology

Exploit: Ransomware
eResearch Technology: Medical Research Technology Provider

Risk to Small Business: 1.330 = Extreme

In a disturbing turn of events, eResearch Technology was severely impacted by a ransomware attack that slowed down progress on COVID-19 vaccine and treatment research. The provider of technology that enables clinical trials and data sharing at organizations including AstraZeneca, Oxford University, and Bristol Myers Squibb, reported that its employees could not access many systems. That in turn affected clinical trials in progress as researchers were forced to track patient data manually using pen and paper. Systems were down for several days for repair.

Individual Risk: No personal data has been reported as impacted in this incident.

Customers Impacted: Unknown

How it Could Affect Your Customers’ Business: Ransomware is a devastating weapon that bad actors are using to shut down essential services and attacks in the medical sector have been escalating – just last week healthcare giant Universal Health Services was walloped by ransomware and is still recovering.

Source:
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/uhs-hospitals-hit-by-reported-country-wide-ryuk-ransomware-attack