Ethical Hacking News
A former FBI lead has urged the US Justice Department to consider felony homicide charges against ransomware actors who target hospitals, citing the alarming number of patient deaths resulting from these attacks. With the threat from ransomware continuing to grow, it is clear that more needs to be done to address this issue.
Ransomware attacks on hospitals and healthcare facilities have resulted in patient deaths.Cynthia Kaiser, a former FBI lead, has urged the US Justice Department to consider felony homicide charges against ransomware actors targeting hospitals.The gap between the severity of these crimes and consequences needs to close, according to Kaiser.Increased funding for state and local governments and reauthorizing the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act are essential steps towards preventing future attacks.The security of our nation's healthcare infrastructure is a critical component of national security.
In recent months, a concerning trend has emerged in the world of cybersecurity: ransomware attacks on hospitals and healthcare facilities have resulted in patient deaths. A former FBI lead, Cynthia Kaiser, has urged the US Justice Department to consider felony homicide charges against ransomware actors who target these critical infrastructure points.
According to Kaiser's testimony before a US House of Representatives subcommittee hearing, the gap between the severity of these crimes and the consequences that follow needs to close. She highlighted the importance of evaluating terrorism designations for "ransomware actors [who] knowingly and repeatedly target hospitals." These actors are not only threatening the safety of patients but also compromising the security of the nation's healthcare infrastructure.
Kaiser's call to action is echoed by other experts in the field, who emphasize the need for increased funding for state and local governments as well as the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act. The latter, set to expire on September 30, has been instrumental in preventing ransomware attacks, with one expert estimating that it has prevented around $9 billion in economic losses.
The impact of these attacks cannot be overstated. According to a University of Minnesota study, at least 47 deaths attributable to hospital ransomware attacks have occurred between 2016 and 2021. Kaiser estimates that this number is likely much higher today. These attacks are not only devastating for individual patients but also have broader implications for national security.
The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has been working tirelessly to prevent these types of attacks, with a focus on early warning systems and information sharing between government agencies and industry partners. However, recent cuts to CISA's workforce and funding have threatened to undermine these efforts.
In December, one of the agency's top officials, David Stern, resigned after being pushed out by President Trump's administration. Stern had been leading CISA's Pre-Ransomware Notification program, which sent critical warnings to more than 4,300 organizations between late 2022 and late 2025, preventing millions of dollars in damages.
The impact of this departure is stark. According to Rep. James R. Walkinshaw (D-VA), the administration's scorched-earth policy on federal employees has led to a "culture of fear" that has stalled CISA's progress on addressing ransomware threats.
As the threat from ransomware continues to grow, it is clear that more needs to be done to address this issue. The US Justice Department must take seriously Kaiser's call for felony homicide charges against these actors. Furthermore, increased funding for state and local governments as well as reauthorizing the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act are essential steps towards preventing future attacks.
The security of our nation's healthcare infrastructure is a critical component of national security. We cannot afford to wait any longer to take decisive action on this issue.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/Ransomware-The-Growing-Threat-to-Healthcare-and-National-Security-ehn.shtml
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2026/04/21/exfbi_cyber_chief_urges_felony_charges_ransomware/
https://www.onenewspage.com/n/Computer+Industry/1ztf28ngrz/Murder-she-wrote-Ex-FBI-chief-wants-some.htm
https://www.newsweek.com/nancy-guthrie-update-ex-fbi-agents-responds-new-ransom-notes-11792779
Published: Tue Apr 21 17:42:24 2026 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
