Category: cybersecurity

Why hackers are extorting patients directly

Hackers are increasingly attempting to extort patients directly as health systems bolster their cyber defenses, Bloomberg Law reported Jan. 22.

Hackers 'spearfish' HHS, steal $7.5M

Hackers pilfered about $7.5 million from HHS last year using a technique called “spearfishing,” illustrating the continued cybersecurity threat facing healthcare, Bloomberg reported.

'Punishing the victims': Would banning ransom payments stop hospital cyberattacks?

As ransomware attacks on hospitals and health systems hit an all-time high in 2023, executives, legislators and patients alike are searching for a solution.

Hackers level bomb threats against hospitals

The FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and National Counterterrorism Center announced Jan. 12 ongoing bomb threats to multiple public institutions, including hospitals and health systems.

Mississippi hospital boosts data breach reach to 253,000 patients

Singing River Health System has notified 253,000 patients that their data was compromised in a data breach in 2023.

Firm returns stolen hospital data after lawsuit

A cloud-storage firm has returned stolen data to a New York health system that had sued to get it back, Information Security Media Group reported.

Ascension data encrypted in cyberattack

Patient data from St. Louis-based Ascension was encrypted and stolen in a recent cyberattack on a third-party vendor, the company said.

Why Scripps hired a former FBI agent

As healthcare organizations across the country are seeing an increase in cybersecurity incidents coupled with a rise in violence against nurses, physicians and hospital staff, San Diego-based Scripps Health has hired a new secret weapon to try to make …

Former hospital exec gets 2 years' probation for HIPAA violation

A former health system executive was sentenced to two years of probation for violating HIPAA, HIPAA Journal reported Jan. 9.

Biden admin looks to zero in on healthcare cybersecurity

The Biden administration is looking to strengthen healthcare cybersecurity and is planning to unveil new requirements for hospitals, themessenger.com reported Jan. 9.