Hacker forum post claims UnitedHealth paid $22 million ransom in bid to recover data

A post on a hacker forum popular with cybercriminals has claimed UnitedHealth Group paid $22 million in a bid to recover access to data and systems encrypted by the “Blackcat” ransomware gang, according to two researchers. Neither UnitedHealth nor the hackers involved have commented on the alleged ransom payment, but a cryptocurrency tracing firm partially corroborated the claim on Monday. The forum post, dated Sunday, said a partner of Blackcat was responsible for the intrusion into UnitedHealth.