The hackers behind the Netwalker Ransomware claim to have attacked the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) and stolen unencrypted data. They then proceeded to encrypt its systems.
UCSF is a research university located in San Francisco, California, specializing in the sciences health. According to U.S. News & World Report, UCSF ranks second in the list of best medical schools for research and sixth in the list of best medical schools for primary care.
Since last week, the Netwalker Ransomware has been targeting US colleges and universities and threatening to publish data it steals.
A few days ago, on May 28, the Netwalker gang announced that it had encrypted Michigan State University 's systems and threatened to publish stolen data if the victim did not pay the ransom. The university did not pay, and so the ransomware group published the data .
They then claimed to have attacked Columbia College of Chicago and once again threatened to expose the stolen data.
Yesterday, the Netwalker ransomware gang said it had attacked the University of California San Francisco.
The hackers published some screenshots showing some of the stolen files.
These screenshots include applications with Social Security numbers and lists of folders that appear to contain employee information, medical studies, and financial data.
Netwalker ransomware becomes one of the biggest threats
Initially, Netwalker ransomware was known as Mailto ransomware (October 2019). It was renamed to Netwalker in February 2020.
The gang behind this is trying to show that it is a major threat by constantly announcing various successful attacks (e.g. attacks on universities and large companies, such as the Australian-based transport company Toll Group )
Netwalker ransomware typically targets exposed Remote Desktop Services and uses spam techniques to gain access to corporate networks. It then steals unencrypted files and finally encrypts the victim's systems.
