[OPLIN 4cast] OPLIN 4Cast #659: Ransomware takes on new targets and new abilities

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OPLIN 4Cast #659: Ransomware takes on new targets and new abilities
August 14th, 2019

[image: Ransomware alert message on a laptop screen - man at work]
Sometimes, I just want to hide my head in the sand, even viewing just
tech-related news. What I've been seeing lately, especially the news
surrounding ransomware, is concerning. It's not just for-profit companies
that are victims, even hospitals
<https://www.forbes.com/sites/leemathews/2018/11/28/ransomware-attack-disrupts-emergency-services-at-ohio-hospital/#3c085f842254>
and, yes, libraries
<https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2018/06/01/when-ransomware-attacks/>
have been targets for ransomware. However, it was the recent news of a new
type of attack vector that has made my mind boggle: researchers have found
that it's now possible to infect a digital DSLR camera
<https://www.zdnet.com/article/this-is-how-ransomware-could-infect-your-digital-camera/>.
If Internet-connected cameras can be targets, then it doesn't take much
imagination to figure that other connected devices may also be vulnerable.

   -
   - Ransomware Attacks on Businesses Are Skyrocketing
   <https://www.pcmag.com/news/370073/ransomware-attacks-on-businesses-are-skyrocketing>
   [PC Magazine] " In the second quarter, the company noticed a 363 percent
   year-over-year increase on ransomware attacks targeting clients running its
   business software. 'Cybercriminals are searching for higher returns on
   their investment, and they can reap serious benefits from ransoming
   organizations over individuals,' the antivirus firm said in a
   Thursday report. "
   - Ransomware attacks are getting more ambitious as crooks target shared
   files
   <https://www.zdnet.com/article/ransomware-attacks-are-getting-more-ambitious-as-crooks-target-shared-files/>
   [ZDNet] "Not just encrypting files on PCs and servers, but locking down
   entire network environments is now the aim of criminals who want to prevent
   the ability for organizations to recover backup data in order to ensure
   that they leave victims with no choice but to pay. "
   - Should You Pay Up If You Get Hit by Ransomware?
   <https://www.howtogeek.com/434676/should-you-pay-up-if-you-get-hit-by-ransomware/>
   [How-To Geek] "And don’t forget—if you pay, there’s a decent chance you
   won’t be able to reclaim access to your files, anyway. There are also
   ethical questions about paying off criminals. As any good economist will
   tell you, any behavior you reward, you’ll invariably get more of. "
   - Cybersecurity officials warn state and local agencies (again) to fend
   off ransomware
   <https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2019/07/cybersecurity-officials-warn-state-and-local-agencies-again-to-fend-off-ransomware/>
   [Ars Technica] " These are just the latest episodes in a long line of state
   and local government organizations that have fallen to ransomware attacks.
   As Louisiana was declaring a state of emergency, the Board of Estimates of
   the City of Baltimore was approving $10 million in spending to recover from
   the city's nearly month-long IT outage caused by the RobbinHood ransomware.

*From the Ohio Web Library <http://ohioweblibrary.org>:*

   - Best Practices for Effectively Defending Against Ransomware Cyber
   Attacks
   <http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=buh&AN=137351116&site=ehost-live>
   ( Oberly, D. J. (2019). Best Practices for Effectively Defending Against
   Ransomware Cyber Attacks. *Intellectual Property & Technology Law
   Journal*, *31*(7), 17–20.  )
   - Never Give Ransomware Scammers Your Money
   <http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=buh&AN=137697499&site=ehost-live>
   ( ddy, M. (2019). Never Give Ransomware Scammers Your Money. *PC
   Magazine*, 24–26. )
   - Avoid Getting Hit by Ransomware: Five Tips for Employees: When Lives
   Are on the Line, Your Employees Could Be Your Best Line of Defense
   <http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=buh&AN=134619094&site=ehost-live>
   ( MARCUS CHUNG. (2019). Avoid Getting Hit by Ransomware: Five Tips for
   Employees: When Lives Are on the Line, Your Employees Could Be Your Best
   Line of Defense. *Journal of Health Care Compliance*, *21*(1), 43–46.  )

------------------------------
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