After WannaCry mobile ransomware is infecting hospital-issued mobile phones and tablets.
Mobile ransomware attacks in 2017 built upon the sharp increase from earlier years. This is simply malware that steals sensitive data or locks your smartphone permanently.
This is exactly like the WannaCry ransomware attacks that occurred in 2017.
Those same criminals will demand bitcoin payments before unlocking your device.
These mobile ransomware attacks on hospital-issued mobile devices carry risks of exposing PHI data. This is especially important if a hospital workforce employee is accessing PHI data on a personal device that is not secure.
Today healthcare needs Mobile Device Management (MDM) more than ever. Respectable MDM services install a “secure container” on a mobile device that ensures hospital data downloaded to a mobile device is stored in a secure, encrypted directory on the device. This can even prevent the user from copying the data from the container.
Mobile ransomware attacks increased dramatically last year. This all points to a much more aggressive 2018. Mobile users (Android specifically) must be vigilant against these attacks.
Read more about it:
july 12th – US Department of Health and Human Services
Ransomware Fact Sheet (PDF)
The hipaa journal (not affiliated with US HHS)
Ransomware on Mobile Devices
JUNe 9th – we live security
Ransomware 101: FAQ for computer users and smartphone owners
18 February 18th – We live security
The rise of Android ransomware PDF
January 2nd – SHI blog
Mobile ransomware: How to defend against attacks on your phone
November 22nd – Symantec
Beware of Ransomware and high risks threats on Android Devices
August 24th – Symantec
Mobile malware factories: Android apps for creating ransomware
January 29th – Citrix
Ransomware – Another Storm is Coming
September 22, 2016 – Trend Micro
Mobile Ransomware: The Fast Growing Yet Unknown Threat
June 29, 2016 – Kaspersky
Ransomware on mobile devices: knock-knock-block
august 28 – Trend Micro
Android Mobile Ransomware: Bigger, Badder, Better?
may 5th – IKarus
Mobile devices already affected by Ransomware
July 3rd – KnowBe4
The Evolution of Mobile Ransomware
july 7th – mcafee
LeakerLocker: Mobile Ransomware Acts Without Encryption
june 9th – malwarebytes
mobile ransomware
june 26th – threat post
SVPENG BEHIND A SPIKE IN MOBILE RANSOMWARE
june 30th – PCWorld
MOBILE-RANSOMWARE-USE-JUMPS-BLOCKING-ACCESS-TO-PHONES
feb 18th – we live security
The rise of Android ransomware
OCT 13th – ESET
DoubleLocker: Innovative Android Ransomware
february 20th – we live security
Trends in Android ransomware
march 1st – we live security
Talking Android ransomware extorts victims
MAY 12th – we live security
Ransomware on Android: Keep calm but get protected
June 4th – we live security
ESET Analyzes Simplocker – First Android File-Encrypting, TOR-enabled Ransomware
September 10th – we live security
Aggressive Android ransomware spreading in the USA
February 14, 2018 – SC Media
New AndroRAT variant with even greater info stealing skills
February 14th – ZDNet
AndroRAT: New Android malware strain can hijack older phones
February 15th – We live security
Android ransomware in 2017: Innovative infiltration and rougher extortion
October 13th – bleeping computer
Android DoubleLocker Ransomware Activates Every Time You Hit Home Button
february 26th – IT Pro Portal
Mobile malware hit new highs in 2017
february 5th – IT Pro Portal
Porn is the perfect lure for mobile malware
january 22nd – it pro portal
Android malware steals data from user smartphones
The BYOD Mobile Threat
Trend’s 2017 Mobile Threat Landscape highlights the changing attack surface. This attack surface greatly impacts healthcare and is growing. Hospitals, clinics, and health systems that permit providers and staff to utilize personal phones (non-hospital-issued devices) must install EMM solutions to protect PHI with a digital, encrypted secure container. The role of Shadow IT in this space can be fatal.