HHS: New ransomware threat alert for healthcare
Editor's Note On Friday, June 16, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) alerted the healthcare sector of a recent ransomware attack on a US cancer center that “reduced cancer treatment capability, rendered digital services unavailable, and threatened exposure of patient personal health information,” the American Hospital Association (AHA)…
Heightened focus on cybersecurity amid ransomware attacks, data breaches
Editor's Note Cybersecurity remains a top concern and potential hazard for patient data. In February, Lehigh Valley Health Network in Allentown, Pennsylvania, was attacked by a ransomware gang BlackCat, which has ties to Russia, Becker’s Health IT reports. The health system has since notified 627 individuals and will continue to…
HHS issues alert on cyber attacks against Veeam software
Editor's Note The Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Health Sector Cybersecurity Coordination Centers on May 10 issued an alert saying that cyber attacks against Veeam Backup & Replication software are on the rise, the American Hospital Association reports. What makes the threat significant is that this software is…
Biden Administration to invest $65B in national cybersecurity strategy
Editor's Note The Biden Administration on March 2 released a National Cybersecurity Strategy that includes a comprehensive approach to accomplish the following: “strengthen collaboration with stakeholders to defend critical infrastructure; disrupt and dismantle threat actors; shape market forces to drive security and resilience; invest in a resilient future; and forge…
Data breach costs Banner Health $1.25M in settlement
Editor's Note Phoenix-based Banner Health paid a $1.25 million settlement after potential HIPAA security violations left 2.81 million consumer’s health data exposed in a 2016 data breach, Becker’s Hospital Review reports on February 3. The potential violations include lack of analysis to determine risks of electronic health records (EHRs),…
Study shows ransomware attacks against healthcare are on the rise
Editor's Note In this study conducted by researchers at the University of Minnesota and by Beth Virnig, PhD, MPH, dean of the University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions, data shows that ransomware attacks on healthcare organizations have more than doubled from 2016 to 2021, Healthcare Purchasing…
ECRI lists Top 10 Health Technology Hazards for 2023
Editor's Note ECRI on January18 published its Top 10 Health Technology Hazards report for 2023, which includes: Gaps in recalls for at-home medical devices Defective single-use medical devices Automated dispensing cabinet overrides Undetected venous needle dislodgement Cybersecurity risks associated with cloud-based clinical systems Inflatable pressure infusers Confusion about ventilator cleaning…
HHS Report: Role of automation in cybersecurity attacks
Editor's Note As cyber attacks on healthcare organizations continue to rise in number, the US department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a report examining the role of automation in cybersecurity, December 13 Health Care Dive reports. According to cybersecurity company, Sophos, the percentage of ransomware attacks on healthcare…
Report: 342 million medical records leaked due to breaches since 2009
Editor's Note Healthcare organizations in the US have seen almost 5,000 data breaches since 2009, notes a cybersecurity report from technology research company Comparitech published in August 2022. According to the report, these medical breaches have led to 342 million medical records being leaked. Here are some key findings from…
Red Cross proposes digital symbol to deter hackers from healthcare facilities
Editor's Note The International Committee of the Red Cross plans to create a digital symbol, similar to its distinctive red symbol, as a warning sign to hackers who attempt to break into hospital networks, The Wall Street Journal November 4 reports. The Red Cross proposed three different options at a…