Hospital hacking threats persist amid continued chaos of Change Healthcare cyberattack
Editor's Note The ransomware group behind a recent cyberattack on one of the nation’s largest health systems has its sights set on hospitals, the FBI and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) warned February 27. According to a report in Chief Healthcare Executive one day later, systems were…
Cyberattack disrupts systems at health technology giant Change Healthcare
Editor's Note Nationwide pharmacy delays and disrupted internal systems are among the effects of a February 21 cyberattack on Change Healthcare, one of the largest healthcare technology companies in the United States. Systems were immediately disconnected to protect partners and patients, the organization reports, and “all other systems across UnitedHealth…
FBI investigates cyberattack on Lurie Children’s Hospital
Editor's Note Billing, records, appointment scheduling and other systems at Lurie Children’s Hospital were still offline a week after representatives of had to cancel a planned OR Business Management Conference presentation due to a cyberattack. According to a February 12 report from the Chicago Sun-Times, the January 31 cyberattack is…
Ransomware attacks on healthcare systems rose in 2023
Editor's Note A near doubling of ransomware attacks on healthcare systems from 2022 to 2023 could point to a problematic trend, according to a January 2 report from cybersecurity firm Emsisoft. Specifically, findings show 46 ransomware attacks in 2023 compared to 25 in 2022 and 27 in 2021. The 2023…
FBI disrupts major ransomware group, Blackcat
Editor's Note The FBI has infiltrated the ransomware group BlackCat—the group responsible for a February cyberattack on the Lehigh Valley Health Network—and issued a decryption tool enabling victims around the world to restore their systems, according to a December 19 Justice Department press release. Emerging during the past 18…
HHS releases concept paper on cybersecurity for healthcare sector
Editor's Note The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a new concept paper on the department’s strategy regarding cybersecurity for the healthcare sector, a December 6 HHS press release reports. The paper details four pillars for action: publishing new voluntary healthcare-specific cybersecurity performance goals working with Congress…
Cybersecurity alert: Vulnerability in Cisco’s Emergency Responder communications platform
Editor's Note Cisco has released an update that fixes a critical vulnerability in their Emergency Responder communications platform, a system used throughout the health sector, an October 6 HC3: Sector Alert from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Information Security reports. The HHS recommends that healthcare systems…
The Joint Commission issues Sentinel Event Alert on patient safety after a cyberattack
Editor's Note The Joint Commission, on August 15, issued “Sentinel Event Alert 67: Preserving patient safety after a cyberattack.” The Alert focuses on risks associated with cyberattacks and provides recommendations on how healthcare organizations can deliver safe patient care if a cyberattack occurs. Actions suggested by The Joint Commission include:…
Cybersecurity alert: New ransomware threat to healthcare, recent attacks
Editor's Note On August 4, the Department of Health and Human Services Health Sector Cybersecurity Coordination Center released a security alert warning hospitals of a new ransomware group called Rhysida that has been active since May 2023 and is recently targeting healthcare by breaching networks and demanding a ransom. According…
Hospitals look to cybersecurity insurance as cyberattacks rise
Takeaways • Patient data & safety are at risk: 94% of hospitals have experienced at least one cyberattack. • Less than half of hospitals in the US carry cybersecurity insurance. • Security is a two-part strategy: cybersecurity insurance as well as preventative measures (eg, encrypted backups, patches, and training). When…
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