Ransomware Succeeds Due To People-Oriented Mistakes

Dateline: April 28, 2017

Welcome to our Friday WRAP – one thought-provoking idea to think about over the weekend.

Have you been the target of ransomware? Recently a post by Greg Slabodkin, the managing editor of Health Data Management, suggested that the epidemic of ransomware is not showing signs of slowing down in a post at Information Management titled, Ransomware epidemic will continue to ravage healthcare providers.

…given the value of patient data and medical records—(healthcare) providers are the focus of cyber criminals who are targeting them with file-encrypting malware….Cyber criminals are not a bunch of teenagers wearing hoodies. It’s very organized and sophisticated.

He notes that most ransomware cases occur “because an end user on the clinical staff or administration falls victim to a social engineering attack.”

…healthcare organizations (need to) adopt a heightened sense of awareness that comes from training end users on emerging cyber threats and what to do about them. “An effective awareness program that helps their employees and contractors to be able to recognize a social engineering attack and then report it is job No. 1,”

This implies, once again, that the best technology available will not protect from people-generated errors.  Instead we need new management approaches and culture change to protect our organizations.

What can you do to help your organization minimize victims of social engineering attacks aimed at your team?

That’s a WRAP!  Have a great weekend!

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