Hospitals and medical facilities are constantly under threat, and it’s not a surprise to see why: with so much personal data from so many people sitting in one place, it’s basically a cybercriminal’s dream. Many health news outlets today are reporting cases of ransomware that have affected hospitals across the country and the world. With the stress added by COVID-19, today’s reality is nothing short of a living nightmare for many medical practitioners and healthcare providers.
One of the most devastating cybercrime threats that can seriously cripple institutions and their patients at present and in the long term is stolen medical records. Ransomware cases launched against medical facilities involve hackers downloading patient records to sell on the Dark Web. In this underground nook of the internet, stolen records are as valuable as $1,000 each. Credit card numbers and Social Security numbers are also popular trading items, but they don’t fetch quite a hefty price as medical data does.
The Value of Medical Records
It might be surprising to many people that credit cards are far cheaper than medical records on the Dark Web. The reason for this is simply perceived value. Credit cards can easily be put on hold or canceled once the owner realizes it has been stolen, which doesn’t leave much value for the thief. However, medical records are rich with unalterable details, including a patient’s personal details, health insurance, contact information, addresses, and more.
Cybercriminals will often work with members of a criminal network on the Dark Web who are highly experienced in money laundering and drug trafficking. These groups use medical records to support their criminal activities, such as acquiring prescription medications to sell on the market. They can also use the personal information available in these records for fraudulent loans and unauthorized use of the patient’s credit cards.
Preventing Cyber Attacks on Medical Institutions
The healthcare industry must rely on reputable security and data privacy measures to ensure their patients’ safety. Affected individuals suffer the consequences of this breach, spending up to $13,000 to resolve record theft through insurers, providers, or legal services. Not only is it a burden financially, but the time spent just repairing the damage caused by the issue is taxing as well.
When dealing with ransomware encryption, hospitals must prepare to face the immediate financial loss that comes with settling the ransom to get the data back. This fallout could last for many years as hospitals conduct a lengthy and costly investigation on the attack while providing identity theft protection to compromised patients. Hospitals might even face lawsuits from patients whose records were leaked during the cyberattack.
Hospitals and other medical facilities must prepare their personnel with ways to prevent ransomware from infiltrating your network. This is as easy as clicking on a fraudulent email sent to a member of your staff, releasing malicious software that works by providing cybercriminals access to all your online records.
Another thing to watch out for is connected medical devices. If these devices are all linked to the hospital’s cloud-based server, then there are more potential entry points for a cybercriminal to infiltrate the system. Hospitals can eliminate this risk by using a secure clinical computing hub to mask devices from hackers.
Conclusion
Part of implementing better healthcare is taking the necessary steps to secure your patients against risks. One of the greatest threats that surfaced was the rise in cybersecurity breaches, especially during the height of COVID-19. If facilities haven’t already begun to fortify their defenses from these attacks, then now is the time to do it. Not only will it protect hospitals now, but it will carry them on through to a safer future.
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