A recent ransomware threat against hospitals underscores the fact that many medical facilities are unprepared for cyberattacks.
Ransomware Attack on Hospitals and Healthcare – Plus How to Protect Yourself from Ransomware
Last week, the FBI warned that hackers could target the health care and public health sectors with ransomware. Such an attack could close hospitals already strained by the coronavirus. Health centers are not prepared for such attacks, experts say.
“We found that 66% of hospitals do not meet the minimum security requirements set forth by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST),” Caleb Barlow, CEO of CynergisTek, a cybersecurity company focused on healthcare, said in an email interview. “Amid a pandemic that has severely hampered travel, tourism, and education, healthcare is open and an easy target for hackers.
“A ransomware attack on a hospital or healthcare facility often has a kinetic impact as patients are diverted. This potential impact on patient care increases the likelihood that organizations will pay the ransom.”
