State Warning of ‘Ransomware’ Attacks

Following a recent incident involving a nonprofit healthcare facility, the Indiana Information Sharing and Analysis Center is warning Hoosiers to protect themselves against ransomware attacks. The state says easiest way to fight ransomware, in which cybercriminals take control of a computer and demand payment to return access, is to avoid it altogether.

Ransomware typically occurs when a user clicks on a pop-up advertisement, visits a website or downloads a file containing a virus, which allows the cybercriminal to take control of the computer and lock the screen. The IN-ISAC says the nonprofit was forced to transfer patients to a different hospital and reroute emergency medical responders as a result of the inicident. 

The state advises all online users to not click on pop-ups that seem untrustworthy or simply disable all pop-ups. Users should also avoid clicking links in emails from people they don’t know or seem out-of-character from the senders.

Anyone who falls victim to ransomware is encouraged to report it to the Internet Crime Complaint Center. You can find more information on reporting the crime at the Indiana State Police website.