Government Warns of Increased Cyber Attacks Targeting Hospitals | FBI and CISA Issue Urgent Alert
Healthcare Industry Faces New Cybercrime Threat
The FBI, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have jointly issued a nationwide alert warning of an “increased and imminent cybercrime threat” targeting hospitals and healthcare organizations.
Hackers are specifically deploying Ryuk ransomware, a strain known for locking entire networks and demanding massive ransom payments in exchange for restoring access. This coordinated warning from three major federal agencies signals the seriousness of the threat—and the need for immediate action.
What the Government Recommends
According to the advisory, attackers are focusing on healthcare facilities and affiliated businesses, including those that manage or process patient information, billing, or supply chain data. To defend against these attacks, the agencies outlined several urgent cybersecurity measures all organizations should take:
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Install the latest security patches for Windows and all critical software.
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Review and test your incident response plan—or create one if it doesn’t yet exist.
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Ensure all backups are current, encrypted, and stored offline.
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Train employees on how to identify phishing emails and social engineering attempts.
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Limit access to personal email on work systems.
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Power down devices connected to the network when not in use to prevent spread during an attack.
While some of these may seem basic, even a single overlooked step can create an opening for ransomware to infect an entire network.
Why Ryuk Ransomware Is So Dangerous
Ryuk is a highly sophisticated ransomware variant known for targeting large organizations, particularly in the healthcare and public service sectors. Once inside a network, it encrypts essential systems, halts operations, and can even compromise backups if they are connected online.
For hospitals, the consequences are severe—delayed patient care, disrupted electronic health record access, and the potential exposure of sensitive medical data. Even healthcare-adjacent businesses such as labs, billing providers, and medical IT firms are at heightened risk.
What You Can Do Now
If your organization handles Protected Health Information (PHI), now is the time to double-check your cybersecurity posture. That means confirming your firewall and antivirus protections are up to date, verifying the integrity of your backups, and conducting a Security Risk Analysis to identify vulnerabilities.
You should also ensure your staff is trained to spot phishing attempts and that your IT team has a clear plan in place for system isolation and recovery in case of infection.
Stay Vigilant and Stay Protected
This latest alert underscores what cybersecurity professionals have long known: the healthcare industry remains a prime target for cybercriminals. Preparation and awareness are your best defenses.
Computer Networks, Inc. provides managed IT and cybersecurity solutions to help medical offices, clinics, and healthcare vendors safeguard sensitive data, ensure HIPAA compliance, and defend against evolving ransomware threats.
Call 757-333-3299 x200 or email info@computernetworksinc.com to schedule a security consultation and strengthen your defenses today.
