Hackers assail UK-based medical agency working on COVID-19 vaccine

Hammersmith Medicines Research (HMR) facility is on standby to help test vaccine for the coronavirus, but unfortunately cyber criminals have hit this organization with a cyberattack, stealing information of the patients and publishing it online. Maze threat actors a few days back promised they aren’t going to target healthcare and medical agencies during this pandemic; however, it appears they were the ones behind this attack and it wasn’t appropriate to expect morals from cyber criminals, as their clear motive is to make money even during the worst times. 

Healthcare organizations are undergoing tremendous pressure, stress and anxiety over the last two months, treating the coronavirus infected patients by working around the clock.

Maze threat actors reneged their statement

Maze threat actors pledged they won’t hit the medical agencies, but reneged it by attacking the Hammersmith Medicines Research (HMR) facility in United Kingdom. This medical had worked on Ebola vaccine during that epidemic. Considering any information about a COVID-19 cure or vaccine at this point of time could be the moenymaker for cyber criminals, their motive hasn’t changed even during these perplexing times.

It is also believed that rather than just breaching into the facility the hackers have also published the patient records over the web, and claims are that they are selling the information over the dark web. Malcolm Boyce, clinical director of Hamersmith Medicines Research have claimed that the Maze actors have published a post of their attack citing their organization as the ‘New client’ (Maze actors call their victims as clients). Boyce have also mentioned there is zero intention of paying the ransom, and said he would better run of out business than facilitating the hackers.

How can HMR be pushed to the bottleneck of paying the ransom

Hackers will continue to publish the stolen patient records one by one, creating pressure on HMR.ltd. Since the news is already out, HMR is already under pressure of data theft and hackers will further escalate this as per their modus operandi by further data leaks. If the company is still stubborn enough and doesn’t pay the ransom, the hackers could publish this stolen data in a random Russian cybercrime forum and request the audience to use it as per their wish. 

Continues coronavirus themed cyberattacks, healthcare targeted malicious actors, and data theft are rising during this pandemic. Organizations are advised to keep their security strategies robust and employees cyber aware. Employ the right tools at the optimal budget and keep the data protected. 

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