The recent Ransomware attacks highlight the importance of a strong endpoint protection and vulnerability of hospital systems to such attacks. With attacks on Chino Valley Medical Center and Methodist Hospital in Kentucky just this month. Shortly before these, Hollywood Presbyterian forcefully paid cybercriminals $17,000 in Bitcoin.

Ransomware is the type of malware that stops a user from using their system. This type of malware forces the user to pay a ransom to regain access to their system. Apart from restricting access, ransomware also,

• Encrypts files on a system
• Stops certain apps from running (e.g. web browser)

The hackers normally demand money in exchange for restoring the system to normal.

Avoiding clicking on any unknown links and attachments is the best defense against a ransomware attack. However, if a person does click, intrusion detection systems and firewalls can help. Once the ransomware is installed on a system without good backup practices, the choices boil down to paying or never regaining control.