The U.S. Department of Justice this week announced charges against Vikas Singla, the chief operating officer of a metro-Atlanta cybersecurity company, for allegedly targeting the Gwinnett Medical Center in a disruptive cyberattack.
Singla, 45, of Marietta, Georgia, allegedly targeted the medical center in 2018, disrupting phone and network printer services, and gaining access to information. According to the indictment, the cyberattack was partially motivated by financial gain.
Singla’s LinkedIn account reveals that he is the COO of Securolytics, an IoT security provider. He has been holding the position since 2016. The cyberattack took place on September 17, 2018.
According to the indictment, Singla’s actions caused damages of at least $5,000, and resulted in “the modification, impairment, and potential modification and impairment of the medical examination, diagnosis, treatment and care of one or more individuals.” Furthermore, the attack allegedly caused damages to more than 10 computers over a one-year period.
Singla was charged with 17 counts of intentional damage to a protected computer, each carrying a maximum of 10 years in prison, and one count of obtaining information from a protected computer, which is punishable by up to five years in prison.
“Cyberattacks that target important infrastructure, like health care, pose a serious threat to public health and safety. In this case, Singla allegedly compromised Gwinnett Medical Center’s operations in part for his own personal gain,” said Kurt Erskine, acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia.
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