A new ransomware strain, known as Trinity, has reportedly compromised at least one healthcare organization in the U.S., according to a recent report from federal authorities.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a warning on Friday, alerting hospitals about the serious threat posed by the ransomware group. They highlighted that Trinity’s methods make it a "notable risk" to both the U.S. healthcare and public health sectors.
HHS's Health Sector Cybersecurity Coordination Center confirmed that one U.S. healthcare entity has recently fallen victim to the Trinity ransomware, which was first detected around May 2024.
To date, seven victims of Trinity ransomware have been identified, including two healthcare providers—one in the U.K. and another in the U.S. The latter, a gastroenterology services provider, lost 330 GB of data. While the facility remains unnamed, it has been listed on Trinity’s data leak site and is currently facing technical disruptions, including limited phone access.
Additionally, researchers have found another case involving a dental group based in New Jersey.
HHS noted similarities between Trinity and two other ransomware groups—2023Lock and Venus—hinting at potential collaboration between these cybercriminals.
Trinity ransomware mirrors other known operations by exploiting common vulnerabilities to extract data and extort victims.
After installation, the ransomware gathers system information, such as available processors and drives, to escalate its attack. Operators then scan for weaknesses to spread the ransomware within the network.
The files encrypted by the attack are marked with the “trinitylock” extension, and victims receive a ransom note demanding payment within 24 hours, with threats of data exposure if they fail to comply.
At present, there is no available decryption tool for Trinity, leaving victims with few options, according to the HHS advisory.
The attackers operate two websites: one to assist those who pay the ransom with decryption, and another that displays stolen data to extort victims further.
Federal officials have discovered code similarities between the Trinity and Venus ransomware strains, noting identical encryption methods and naming schemes, which suggest a close link between them. Trinity also shares features with 2023Lock, including identical ransom notes and code, implying it could be an updated variant.
Cybersecurity researchers have also pointed out that Trinity may be a rebranded version of both Venus and 2023Lock. According to Allan Liska of Recorded Future, Trinity is "not a highly advanced strain of ransomware," and the attackers do not appear particularly sophisticated.
HHS emphasized that the potential collaboration between these threat actors could enhance the complexity and impact of future ransomware attacks.
Previous HHS warnings have covered other ransomware groups such as Royal, Cuba, Venus, Lorenz, and Hive.
Despite heightened law enforcement efforts, ransomware attacks persist, with operations continuing to generate significant revenue—approximately $450 million in the first half of 2024 alone.
The healthcare sector has been particularly affected by these attacks, causing severe disruptions. Just last week, a Texas hospital, the only level 1 trauma center in a 400-mile radius, had to reduce services and turn away ambulances due to a ransomware incident.
As of Friday, the hospital reported restored phone services, with only a limited number of ambulances being redirected to other facilities.
