The same technology that makes it easy for patients to order prescription refills, see test results and schedule appointments with doctors has also made it simple for hackers to launch debilitating cyberattacks on hospitals and healthcare systems, and experts say there’s no end in sight.
“These cyberattacks against our hospital systems here and overseas only underscore the very pressing need for better cybersecurity within the healthcare industry as a whole,” stated Steven McKeon, cybersecurity specialist and MacguyverTech and MacNerd founder.
In 2023, the United States’ healthcare and public health was the most targeted by ransomware attackers, a new FBI report revealed, well ahead of other essential services such as transportation and energy.
As analysts point out, cybercriminals make these highly complex and harmful ransomware attacks to encrypt vital computer systems and pilfer data as a tool for extortion.
Why is healthcare such an easy target? Perhaps it is its old technology.
“Our company’s experience and its growing need to repair outdated technology that is in some instances more than a decade old is very alarming,” McKeon stated. “With one in three Americans affected by data breaches, upgrading these systems and strengthening cybersecurity safeguards are crucial to safeguarding patient information and providing safety and continuity of care.”
The healthcare system requires assistance in the form of more federal funding and enforcement of mandated cybersecurity best practices and improvements. With growing cyber threats, McKeon feels securing and informing others on security has never been more urgent.
Eager, collective public health efforts must become a prime international priority with cooperation among governments and the health industry sectors imperative in confronting threats to these networks and protecting such systems for the long term,” said McKeon. In his over 25 years experience within the technological domain, he maintains that an expansion of best-practice-based cybersecurity through multicased security slows hackers by taking much more effort in order to invade defenses.
Reference:
U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation. (2023). Internet Crime Report. https://www.ic3.gov/AnnualReport/Reports/2023_ic3report.pdf
