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The U.S. State Department has issued a call for information, offering up to $10 million for leads on the Blackcat ransomware group.
This group is responsible for a massive cyberattack on UnitedHealth Group’s technology sector, causing widespread disruptions in insurance payments across the country.
U.S. Department of State offers up to $10 million for information
The announcement highlighted that the ALPHV Blackcat ransomware-as-a-service operation has breached computer networks critical to infrastructure in the U.S. and internationally.
The U.S. Department of State’s Rewards for Justice (RFJ) program, which is administered by the Diplomatic Security Service, is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the identification or location of any person who, while acting at the direction or under the control of a foreign government, engages in certain malicious cyber activities against U.S. critical infrastructure in violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA).
U.S. Department of State media note (source)
UnitedHealth reported it is making progress in clearing a medical claims backlog of more than $14 billion as its services gradually come back online after the cyberattack that began in late February.
The attack affected 30 million vulnerable individuals
The technology unit, Change Healthcare, is integral in processing payments from insurers to healthcare providers.
The attack’s disruption has financially impacted both patients and doctors in some instances, severely affecting community health centers that cater to over 30 million vulnerable and uninsured individuals.
Earlier this month, hackers claimed that UnitedHealth paid a $22 million ransom to get access to its systems; however, it is unclear whether Blackcat fulfilled its part of the deal, explains Reuters.
Not long after the hack, the group created a fake press release and posted it on their website, making it seem like they had shut down operations because they were seized by law enforcement.
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Madalina, a seasoned digital content creator at Heimdal®, blends her passion for cybersecurity with an 8-year background in PR & CSR consultancy. Skilled in making complex cyber topics accessible, she bridges the gap between cyber experts and the wider audience with finesse.
