Large Canadian Childrens Hospital, SickKids, Hit by Ransomware

SickKids Foundation, a major pediatric teaching hospital located on University Avenue in Toronto, Ontario, Canada confirmed on December 19th that they have fallen victim to a ransomware attack that effected their multiple internal clinical and corporate systems, as well as some phone lines and web pages. 

After the attack,  LockBit apologized for the extortion attack against SickKids.

We believe fighting for the health and wellbeing of children is one of the most powerful ways to improve society. 

Our mission is to inspire communities to invest in health and scientific advances to improve the lives of children and their families in Canada and around the world.

As leaders who are committed to delivering outstanding results, we embrace the following core values that together are reflected in the way we work toward our mission, with each other, and our community. (sickkidsfoundation.com)"

Luckily, no personal information was impacted, and that SickKids was not forced to pay a ransom.

This attack comes just 2 weeks before the new year. 2022 became a record-breaking year for cybersecurity attacks across all industries. During the first half of 2022, cyberattacks rose by an incredible 42% compared to 2021. So, what does this mean for 2023? 

By 2023, the total number of global DDoS attacks will reach 15.4 million. (Cisco) Worldwide cybercrime statistics show that the number of worldwide DDoS attacks will reach 15.4 million by 2023. 

How can we ensure that our organizations do not become victim to these cyberattacks? Stay educated and up to date with tips and tricks to keep your information safe. It is crucial to always stay one step ahead of cybercriminals. 

The world of IT security is a scary place, and it seems like the bad guys are winning. Every week it seems we hear of another severe data breach, or a new piece of malware wreaking havoc in the IT world.

Businesses of all sizes experience security issues today. Your company IS a target, and an attack on your business can put you out of business.

No IT service provider can promise you’ll never get hacked. But here's what we can do:

• Provide you with the best tools we can find
• Deploy them intelligently to reduce the chances an attacker will get through
• Limit the damage malware can do if you are hacked
• Respond quickly to eliminate any problems that occur