Cybersecurity

The digital security of healthcare institutions and data is a growing concern, with an increasing number of cyberattacks each year against healthcare systems, which are seen as easy targets. Cyber attacks often use ransomware to target personal health information, patient data and medical devices to cut off access to the data until a ransom is payed to the hacker. Cybercriminals have become more sophisticated, using malware, ransomware and spyware to attack outdated and vulnerable systems and software. Due to the interconnected nature of hospital IT systems today, the weakest link can be older web-enabled medical devices, including clinical and non-clinical systems. Employees are also a major target of attacks via malicious e-mails that prompt them to open attachments that then download malware onto the hospital's IT system.

Alabama security breach exposes personal information of cardiologists, heart patients

Both patients and physicians were impacted by the incident, with outside forces gaining access to everything from names and social security numbers to banking information. 

Cardiologist allegedly created and sold ransomware tools to hackers

One of the cardiologist's creations, "Thanos," allowed his clients to develop their own ransomware software and rent it out to other criminals. 

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Health data breaches increased three-fold in 2021

Health data breaches were on the rise last year, leaving millions of Americans’ sensitive health information exposed.

 

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Rethinking Resource Allocation: WannaCry Shakes up Health IT & Device Makers

While the WannaCry cyberattack against hospitals, clinics and device makers was largely unsuccessful, future hacks might be used to imperil patients. Experts worry the U.S system is still too vulnerable and health IT departments are under-resourced.  

Around the web

Ron Blankstein, MD, professor of radiology, Harvard Medical School, explains the use of artificial intelligence to detect heart disease in non-cardiac CT exams.

Eleven medical societies have signed on to a consensus statement aimed at standardizing imaging for suspected cardiovascular infections.