--- title: Healthcare Under Attack By Blast From The Past Ransomware description: Healthcare Under Attack By Blast From The Past Ransomware --- [Securafy Knowledge Hub](https://blog.securafy.com) - [Topics](https://blog.securafy.com/#sf-cover) - [Tools](https://blog.securafy.com/#sf-tools) - [Books & Guides](https://blog.securafy.com/#sf-books) [Talk to Securafy](https://meetings.hubspot.com/securafy/strategy-call) [Topics](https://blog.securafy.com/#sf-cover) [Tools](https://blog.securafy.com/#sf-tools) [Books & Guides](https://blog.securafy.com/#sf-books) [Talk to Securafy](https://meetings.hubspot.com/securafy/strategy-call) [Knowledge Hub](https://blog.securafy.com) / IT Operations IT Operations # Healthcare Under Attack By Blast From The Past Ransomware Healthcare Under Attack By Blast From The Past Ransomware ![Randy Hall](https://blog.securafy.com/hubfs/Randy%20Hall%202.png) By Randy Hall Updated Jul 2024 2 min read Share [**](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https://blog.securafy.com/2021/02/12/healthcare-under-attack-by-blast-from-the-past-ransomware) [**](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://blog.securafy.com/2021/02/12/healthcare-under-attack-by-blast-from-the-past-ransomware&text=%3Cspan+id%3D%22hs_cos_wrapper_name%22+class%3D%22hs_cos_wrapper+hs_cos_wrapper_meta_field+hs_cos_wrapper_type_text%22+style%3D%22%22+data-hs-cos-general-type%3D%22meta_field%22+data-hs-cos-type%3D%22text%22+%3EHealthcare+Under+Attack+By+Blast+From+The+Past+Ransomware%3C%2Fspan%3E) [**](mailto:?subject=%3Cspan+id%3D%22hs_cos_wrapper_name%22+class%3D%22hs_cos_wrapper+hs_cos_wrapper_meta_field+hs_cos_wrapper_type_text%22+style%3D%22%22+data-hs-cos-general-type%3D%22meta_field%22+data-hs-cos-type%3D%22text%22+%3EHealthcare+Under+Attack+By+Blast+From+The+Past+Ransomware%3C%2Fspan%3E&body=https://blog.securafy.com/2021/02/12/healthcare-under-attack-by-blast-from-the-past-ransomware) ![](https://static.hsstatic.net/BlogImporterAssetsUI/ex/missing-image.png)The year 2017 was an eternity ago in internet time, but back in those ancient days, there was one name in the ransomware world that sent tremors of terror down everyone's spine. That word was Cerber. As one of the first bits of malicious code to be utilized as "ransomware as a service," it quickly became the most widely used ransomware strain on the planet. Back then, ransoms were demanded in the hundreds of dollars, so by today's standards, Cerber wasn't nearly the existential threat that many of today's ransomware strains are, but during its prime, it was certainly viewed as a force to be reckoned with, and was once responsible for 90 percent of all ransomware attacks made against Windows-based systems. By 2018 the world had moved on, and there were a wide range of other, shiny new things that drew hackers' attention, and Cerber's star began to fade. By the beginning of 2019 it was effectively dead, with no reported instances of its use anywhere. The year 2020 proved that everything old is eventually new again, however. Somewhat unexpectedly, Cerber reared its fearsome head again and began finding an audience among the hackers of the world. The malware's developers had used the time well and updated their code to bring it up to par with more modern ransomware strains. That, combined with the fact that the code is still being used "as a service" made it very easy for it to find a willing audience and its previous reputation certainly helped. Although Cerber didn't boast 90 percent of all Windows-based ransomware attacks in 2020, it did manage to capture 58 percent of them. That is impressive given that the year before it was essentially a non-entity. While no one can say with any certainty what 2021 will hold, if the past is any guide, Cerber will probably shine brightly for a while, then vanish, only to reappear again in another year or two. In the meanwhile, stay on your guard. It's definitely not a threat to be taken lightly. Tagged Under IT Operations[Cybersecurity](https://blog.securafy.com/tag/cybersecurity)Business Continuity In This Article Need Help With Your Current Setup? Talk through your current systems, risks, and support gaps with Securafy. [Book a Strategy Call](https://meetings.hubspot.com/securafy/strategy-call) ## Join The Conversation Have a question or perspective on this topic? Add it below. ![Randy Hall](https://blog.securafy.com/hubfs/Randy%20Hall%202.png) About The Author Randy Hall · CEO & Founder Randy Hall is the CEO and Founder of Securafy, with decades of experience helping organizations make smarter, safer decisions about technology. A frequent speaker and instructor at national IT events, Randy has advised thousands of organizations, from startups and SMBs to large enterprises and U.S. government entities, on secure, practical technology adoption. He writes about the decisions business leaders are often expected to make without enough context, including cybersecurity, compliance, AI, cyber insurance, IT strategy, and business resilience. Outside the office, you’ll often find Randy on Lake Erie enjoying time on his 38-foot Chris-Craft. **Writes about:** Cybersecurity strategy, compliance, AI security, business resilience, cyber insurance, SMB risk, IT leadership [More From This Author →](https://blog.securafy.com/author/randyhall) Related Articles Business Continuity [Compliance Risk Assessment: How Downtime Impacts Your Bottom Line](https://blog.securafy.com/compliance-risk-assessment-how-downtime-impacts-your-bottom-line) When systems go down, compliance obligations don't pause—and the financial consequences ... Jul 28, 2026 Compliance [HIPAA Security Rule Changes Are Delayed To 2027: Why Healthcare Organizations Should Not Wait](https://blog.securafy.com/hipaa-security-rule-changes-are-delayed-to-2027-why-healthcare-organizations-should-not-wait) The updated HIPAA Security Rule won't take effect until 2027, but healthcare ... 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