Healthcare enters new cybersecurity era as hacktivists, organized crime, foreign nationals take aim

Organized criminals began targeting healthcare in 2012, stealing patient data to monetize in various ways. Attacks have become increasingly sophisticated and more frequent. Healthcare organizations have been hit by one hack per month in the past year, with attackers exploiting software vulnerabilities and using spearphishing techniques. Kevin Johnson, CEO of Secure Ideas, explained that these attacks are low-risk for the criminals but have the potential for high financial gain. The next wave of attacks is expected to come from hacktivists and foreign nationals with different motivations. Trust between patients and clinicians is at stake.