Digital Forensics Reveal Entry and Spread of Ransomware in Healthcare System
Published on: 08 Jul 2025
In 2022, a regional healthcare provider suffered a ransomware attack that encrypted patient records and disrupted services. Cybersecurity and forensic teams were called in to investigate how the ransomware penetrated and spread within the network.
Forensic efforts included:
Analyzing malware samples to identify ransomware strain and behavior
Reviewing network logs to determine initial infection vector—phishing email with malicious attachment
Tracking lateral movement of ransomware through vulnerable servers
Examining endpoint logs to detect delayed execution and persistence mechanisms
This detailed forensic investigation enabled the healthcare provider to identify weaknesses in email filtering, patch management, and endpoint security, leading to a comprehensive security overhaul.
Forensic efforts included:
Analyzing malware samples to identify ransomware strain and behavior
Reviewing network logs to determine initial infection vector—phishing email with malicious attachment
Tracking lateral movement of ransomware through vulnerable servers
Examining endpoint logs to detect delayed execution and persistence mechanisms
This detailed forensic investigation enabled the healthcare provider to identify weaknesses in email filtering, patch management, and endpoint security, leading to a comprehensive security overhaul.
