Dental Practices Hit with Ransomware Attacks Across the U.S

Dentist Showing X-ray Image To Patient. People, Medicine, Stomat

Hundreds of dental practice offices across the U.S were hit with ransomware attacks last week according to reports. Software used by the dental practices were targeted in these attacks. The software, PerCSoft and Digital Dental Record both offered by two Wisconsin-based companies are cloud management providers of medical records retention and backup solutions to dental practices in the US.

The ransomware attack hit PerCSoft over the weekend and was discovered when dental offices reopened on Monday, August 26th.  After arriving to work dentists found that they could not access patient information.

PerCSoft has not confirmed if a ransom was paid or what ransomware strain was involved. However, sources have confirmed that malicious attackers used an advanced version of ransomware to distribute the attack. This ransomware, REvil (Sodinokibi), encrypted about 400 dental practices across the United States.

Further, Facebook posts and statements published by PerCSoft sources suggest that the providers decided to pay the ransom demand to the attackers. In return, they received a decryptor to help recover encrypted files. The decryption process seems to be working, however, is slow. Many dental offices have stated that either the decryptor did not work or only partial files were decrypted.

In one statement released by PerCSoft they said:

“I know some of you are still running the decryption and others are up, but only partially. We are continuing to forge through with these. Our priority is to get the practice management up and you able to take xrays. Just like the last two nights we will be working all hours to get this taken care of. I know the responses are slow, but we are trying very hard to get everyone up as soon as possible.”

Small to medium-sized companies are increasingly becoming targeted in ransomware attacks. Threat actors target business whom they believe may be least prepared for an attack. Contact LIFARS today to better prepare for malicious attacks.


Credits

https://www.zdnet.com/article/ransomware-hits-hundreds-of-dentist-offices-in-the-us/

https://krebsonsecurity.com/2019/08/ransomware-bites-dental-data-backup-firm/