Online Ransom Demands Threaten Businesses in Arkansas

Computer crimes using “ransomware,” malware that encrypts files then demands payment to unlock them, are growing in number and sophistication and are increasingly being seen in Arkansas. Even people who don’t have the technical expertise to create this type of malware can buy it online. In addition, lucrative targets, especially hospitals and other health care facilities that are subject to hefty fines for being breached, are ample targets, and hackers don’t need to invest much effort or money to reap huge dividends, local experts say. “It’s a whole industry. It’s a targeted way to make money,” said Ted Clouser, executive vice president of PC Assistance in Little Rock. “There is no one that is safe.It doesn’t matter how large or small you are — and in some cases, small businesses, unfortunately, are more at risk because they can’t or often don’t put the investment in on the front end to take these proactive measures.” Recent incidents in the state highlight the problem. Both ARcare of Augusta and the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office in Berryville were victims of ransomware attacks in December. The sheriff’s office paid about $2,400 in digital bitcoin currency to recover its data. Incidents of ransomware have been growing by several hundred percent per quarter, and that trend is expected to continue for at least the next year or two, according to an August report by Osterman Research...
Source: Arkansas Business - Health Care - Category: American Health Source Type: news