United Service Union Suffers Ransomware Attack by Blackbyte

Victim Profile

The United Service Union, a prominent labor union in Australia, represents a diverse workforce across local government, healthcare, and education sectors. The union is known for its vigorous advocacy for workers' rights, highlighted by its recent achievement in securing a Senate Inquiry into sustainable jobs, services, and funding in local government.

Company Size and Industry Standout

While the exact size of the United Service Union is not detailed, it is clear that ransomware attacks do not discriminate based on the size of the organization. Smaller entities often find themselves at a higher risk due to limited cybersecurity resources. The union's significant role within the Australian labor sector underscores its importance, particularly in light of its successful advocacy efforts.

Vulnerabilities and Targeting

Ransomware attacks have seen a global uptick, with a notable increase from 2020 to 2022. These attacks have evolved, with cybercriminals constantly adjusting their focus towards entities they perceive as most vulnerable or most likely to pay ransoms. Although specific cybersecurity details of the United Service Union are not publicly available, its prominence and sector categorization likely make it a target for cyber threats like data theft and encryption.

Mitigating Ransomware Attacks

This article centers on the ransomware attack against the United Service Union by Blackbyte. For broader strategies on mitigating the risk of ransomware attacks, readers should consult established cybersecurity resources and adhere to industry best practices.

Sources

• United Service Union: WE ARE YOUR UNION
• Ransomware Attacks in the US and the Rest of the World, January 2020–December 2022
• The Scourge of Ransomware: Victim Insights on Harms to Individuals, Organisations and Society - RUSI. https://rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/commentary/scourge-ransomware-victim-insights-harms-individuals-organisations-and-society
• The Evolving Menace of Ransomware: A Comparative Analysis of Pre-pandemic and Mid-pandemic Attacks | Digital Threats: Research and Practice. https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3411763.3443440
• Ransomware victim numbers surge as attackers target zero-day vulnerabilities | CSO Online. https://www.csoonline.com/article/3236184/ransomware-victim-numbers-surge-as-attackers-target-zero-day-vulnerabilities.html