Hoplon InfoSec
20 Jun, 2025
Imagine waking up to a world where hospitals revert to pen and paper, city services go offline, and private data – your data is being auctioned on the dark web. That’s exactly what happened (The Ransomware Plague) Ohio this year.
A group known as Interlock carried out a ransomware attack on May 20, 2025, targeting Kettering Health, a major healthcare network in Ohio. The healthcare provider operates 14 hospitals and over 120 outpatient facilities, serving thousands of patients across the state. The attack quickly crippled critical systems, including their electronic medical records (Epic), internal communication lines, imaging tools, and scheduling systems. Many non-urgent surgeries and outpatient appointments were delayed or cancelledd, and some emergency cases had to be diverted to other hospitals due to system failure.
In the aftermath, the Interlock ransomware gang claimed responsibility and posted proof on their leak site. They alleged that they stole 941 GB of sensitive data, which included more than 732,000 files spanning over 20,000 folders. This trove reportedly included patient records, passport scans, driver’s licences, insurance details, employee files, financial documents, and even police and security reports. Analysts reviewing the leaked data confirmed that a large volume of it appeared real and highly sensitive.
In response, Kettering Health took immediate measures. Their cybersecurity team, along with third-party experts, began working to remove malicious tools left behind, restore system functionality, and assess the scope of the damage. By early June, they announced that critical services were back online. The organisation also began notifying affected individuals, offering identity protection services, and reinforcing its internal cyber defences. These upgrades included network segmentation, enhanced monitoring, faster vulnerability patching, and more robust staff training to reduce the chance of future breaches.
While Kettering Health did not confirm if ransom was paid, the scale and detail of the stolen data, combined with the quick publication of proof by Interlock, suggesta typical double-extortion tactic: encrypt the data and threaten public exposure to force payment. The attack caused significant disruption to healthcare delivery and raised serious concerns about data privacy and cyber readiness across healthcare networks in the U.S.
Mistakes That Made It Possible
Kettering Health
Who’s Behind the Curtain?
Interlock
Rhysida
What’s at Stake?
Let’s talk quietly, like I’m telling you something not everyone knows yet.
The Kettering Health breach wasn’t random. Interlock, a relatively new but highly aggressive ransomware group, carried out the breach. They emerged around September 2024, but in just a few months, they’ve built a brutal reputation. What is their signature tactic? Double extortion. That means they don’t just lock your files; they also steal them. Then they threaten to leak everything online unless you pay up.
That’s what they did to Kettering Health. Before this, they hit DaVita, a large dialysis provider, and reportedly stole 1.5 terabytes of data. Other victims? Texas Tech University and some UK academic institutions. Their list of targets tells you something: they go after large, vital services where even one day offline could be deadly or cost millions.
Now let’s turn to Rhysida, the gang responsible for the attack on the Columbus city government. These guys aren’t new. They have been under surveillance for some time, targeting not only city governments but also hospitals and even military contractors. In the Columbus case, they demanded 30 BTC, about $1.9 million, in ransom. However, when the city declined to pay, Rhysida forcibly uploaded 3 terabytes of stolen data from a purported 6.5 terabyte haul. They leaked emergency services, camera feeds, city employee IDs, and more.
What ties both groups together isn’t just their tools; they are smart, silent, and cruel. They target areas where lives or trust are at stake, relying on fear, silence, and coercion to inflict consequences. That’s why these attacks are so dangerous. These attacks pose a significant threat not only to the systems but also to the individuals responsible for them.
Ransomware Ohio wasn’t just another tech story. This was personal. Imagine you’re sitting in a hospital waiting room. Your mom needs a scan. Your child has a surgery scheduled. But suddenly, the hospital says, “Sorry, our systems are down. We don’t even know your appointment time anymore.” That’s what patients at Kettering Health faced. Some emergency care was rerouted to other hospitals, surgeries were delayed, and phones didn’t work. One nurse anonymously told reporters she had to “write everything on paper like it was 1995.” That’s not just disruption; it’s danger.
On the financial side, the city of Columbus alone had to budget $7 million to deal with the aftermath legal costs, security audits, and identity monitoring for victims. That’s taxpayer money, not from some rainy-day fund. It’s what could’ve gone to schools, sanitation, and infrastructure. The ransom was 30 Bitcoin, about $1.9 million, but Columbus refused to pay. Still, over 500,000 people had their Social Security numbers, banking info, and even police records exposed. That’s not just data. That’s leverage for future crimes: fraud, blackmail, and stalking.
And socially? There is a breach in trust. Journalists slammed local officials for downplaying the breach. Internationally, security analysts say these attacks could be testing grounds for bigger targets, critical infrastructure and elections. And yet, most people are unfamiliar with the names of these gangs, Interlock and Rhysida, despite their involvement now being deeply embedded in the private lives of thousands. What’s worse? This scenario can happen again. Anywhere. To anyone. And we’re not ready.
It’s not just a breach. It’s a breach of safety, dignity, and control.
How You Can Guard Yourself
You don’t need to be a cybersecurity expert to stay safe, but you do need to be smart, aware, and prepared. These gangs, such as Interlock and Rhysida, rely on people being busy, tired, or distracted. That’s when you click the wrong link, ignore a system update, or use the same password again. Let me show you how to stay out of their reach:
Things You Must Do: Quiet Rules for Staying Safe
1. WatchPhishing
If something feels off – an email from “IT”, a link from a friend, or an attachment you didn’t expect – don’t open it. Just one click can open the door.
2. Keepything Updated
Update your software, browser, and remote tools. Hackers love old systems. Updates fix the holes they sneak through.
3. Use(Multi-Factor Authentication)
Even if they steal your password, they can’t get in without your second verification text, app, or key.
4. SegmentntYour Network
If you are part of a company or manage systems, please consider segmenting your network. Don’t let one infection jump to everything.
5. Back Up regularly.
Offline, encrypted, and in multiple places. If ransomware locks your files, you’ll still have clean copies.
6. Monitor Your Systems
Use real-time monitoring tools. Look for strange behaviour, files moving, big downloads, and new logins.
7. Have an Emergency Plan
Know who to call: a cyber response team, forensic experts, your legal team, your PR manager. Have everything ready before something happens.
What You Should Learn – Just Enough to Be Dangerous (to Them)
· Basics of Cyber Hygiene
Learn what phishing looks like. Know what a secure link or domain should be.
· Digital Identity Protection
Study how to manage your online identity. Learn about password managers and how to recognise a scam.
· Incident Response Planning
Know how companies recover. Read breach stories. Understand the steps taken.
· Social Engineering Awareness
Most attacks start with people, not machines. Learn how attackers manipulate trust, urgency, and curiosity.
· Use Threat Intelligence Tools
Even basic tools like HaveIBeenPwned or browser-based phishing filters can alert you to threats.
Final Word
These attacks in Ohio are not just cybersecurity events; they’re warnings. They reveal how fragile healthcare and public sectors remain in the face of modern ransomware gangs using both technical stealth and social engineering. Interlock and Rhysida are professional criminals exploiting system gaps, poor patching, and reactive responses.
If hospitals and cities top-tier protected organisations are vulnerable, so are countless others. Without stronger defences, clearer communication, and more resilient systems, cyber threats will continue to leverage our services and data.
This is not merely a warning; it’s an indication that we need to take immediate action.
Resources:
Bloomberg
Security Magazine
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