The United States government has issued a stark warning to citizens that a powerful ransomware threat has been identified targeting key infrastructure in the country, ranging from government services to utilities and healthcare.
The ransomware, dubbed “Royal” by security researchers, has been identified as a highly sophisticated and destructive form of malicious software that can wreak havoc on computer systems. Royal is believed to be the work of sophisticated hackers and is thought to have been developed by a group known as The Kings.
Royal is believed to have originally been designed to target companies’ systems and networks, but increasingly it has been seen being used to target government and critical infrastructure networks.
Its targets have included power and water utilities, healthcare facilities, and government and emergency services.
The US government has warned against what it has characterized as “extremely severe” ransomware attacks. It has also cautioned that these malicious attacks can result in disruption and shut-off of critical services and systems, as well as data corruption, data loss, and costly repairs.
The FBI and other government departments have urged any organization that may be targeted by Royal to seek specialist cybersecurity help immediately.
The government has asked companies and organizations to ensure that their networks are properly protected and up-to-date, with effective security systems in place.
The warnings come as Royal ransomware is becoming an increasingly destructive threat. In June, it was used in an attack that forced Munich airport to shut down its operations for a week.
Security researchers have warned that Royal is among the most dangerous ransomware threats currently known, and that it has the capability to cause “catastrophic” damage to infected networks.
The US government is taking the threat very seriously, and those in charge of critical infrastructure networks should ensure that they equip themselves with the necessary defenses to protect against the threat of Royal.
