Live data from Hacker News

Update on IT Security Incident at UCSF

ucsf.edu

1–10 of 150 posts

Re: Update on IT Security Incident at UCSF

#7
post #3

The paid ransom, will unfortunately embolden the criminals to strike again in search of the next big payday. If it worked once, it could work again.

Optimistic counterpoint: a high-profile, (relatively) high-value ransom payout like USC's may incentivise other orgs vulnerable to this kind of attack to take steps to prevent this kind of issue.

Anything from restricting program capabilities/permissions for external executables, to keeping "colder" backups of business-critical data, to monitoring and responding to software that looks like it's traversing the whole filesystem, could reduce the harm ransomware causes.

Re: Update on IT Security Incident at UCSF

#10
post #3

The paid ransom, will unfortunately embolden the criminals to strike again in search of the next big payday. If it worked once, it could work again.

If the data is worth paying a million dollar ransom to unlock, it is worth setting up proper backups. I for one am grateful to people who commit these crimes in which they "lock" data in place rather than sell it to the highest bidder.

Proper data hygiene isn't brain surgery. There is zero excuse for this event. I don't blame the criminals. I blame the university system. Shame!

Post reply on HN