Everest Ransomware Hits Horizon View Medical Center in Nevada
Everest Ransomware Group Targets Horizon View Medical Center
Horizon View Medical Center, a prominent healthcare facility in Henderson, Nevada, has become the latest victim of a ransomware attack orchestrated by the notorious Everest Ransomware Group. The attack was discovered on August 8, and the perpetrators have issued a 24-hour ultimatum for the medical center to make contact, threatening to release all compromised data if their demands are not met.
About Horizon View Medical Center
Horizon View Medical Center is known for its comprehensive range of healthcare services, with a strong emphasis on personalized and concierge medicine. The clinic is dedicated to providing high-quality, patient-centered care that prioritizes individual health needs and preferences. Their approach includes regular health assessments, health screenings, and lifestyle counseling aimed at promoting overall well-being. The clinic also offers telemedicine options, making healthcare more accessible for patients with busy schedules or those living in remote areas.
Vulnerabilities and Targeting
Healthcare facilities like Horizon View Medical Center are particularly vulnerable to ransomware attacks due to the sensitive nature of the data they handle. The clinic's commitment to personalized care and the use of telemedicine services may have introduced vulnerabilities that threat actors like Everest can exploit. The reliance on digital records and communication systems makes healthcare providers attractive targets for ransomware groups seeking to disrupt operations and extract ransom payments.
Attack Overview
The Everest Ransomware Group has claimed responsibility for the attack via their dark web leak site. The group has given Horizon View Medical Center a 24-hour window to respond, threatening to release all compromised data if their demands are not met. The exact size of the data leak remains unknown at this time, but the potential impact on patient privacy and the clinic's operations could be significant.
About Everest Ransomware Group
The Everest Ransomware Group has been active since at least December 2020 and is known for its involvement in ransomware attacks, data exfiltration, and initial access brokering. The group targets organizations across various industries, with a particular focus on the healthcare sector. Everest employs a combination of legitimate compromised user accounts and Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) for lateral movement, using AES and DES algorithms to encrypt files. The attackers then display a ransom message with instructions on how to contact them and pay the ransom to obtain the decryption key.
Penetration Methods
Everest ransomware could have penetrated Horizon View Medical Center's systems through several methods, including phishing attacks, exploiting vulnerabilities in remote access systems, or using compromised user accounts. The group's increasing activity as an Initial Access Broker (IAB) suggests that they may have sold access to the medical center's systems to other criminals, further complicating the attack's origins and motivations.
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