Cybersecurity

The digital security of healthcare institutions and data is a growing concern, with an increasing number of cyberattacks each year against healthcare systems, which are seen as easy targets. Cyber attacks often use ransomware to target personal health information, patient data and medical devices to cut off access to the data until a ransom is payed to the hacker. Cybercriminals have become more sophisticated, using malware, ransomware and spyware to attack outdated and vulnerable systems and software. Due to the interconnected nature of hospital IT systems today, the weakest link can be older web-enabled medical devices, including clinical and non-clinical systems. Employees are also a major target of attacks via malicious e-mails that prompt them to open attachments that then download malware onto the hospital's IT system.

UnitedHealthcare UHC UnitedHealth

Breached Change Healthcare server lacked multifactor authentication, UnitedHealth CEO admits

UnitedHealth CEO Andrew Witty told the Senate Finance Committee that systems have been rebuilt “from scratch” in light of the oversight.

May 1, 2024

Kaiser Permanente exposed data on 13.4 million members to tech companies

Tracking technologies sent patient information to advertisers such as Microsoft, Google and Meta.

April 26, 2024
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Hackers were inside Change Healthcare’s systems 9 days before attack

UnitedHealth Group confirms hackers have personal data on “a substantial proportion of people in America."

April 24, 2024
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Atrium Health sued for violating patient privacy, sharing data with Facebook and Google

In a court filing, the plaintiffs claim Atrium Health used Meta's Pixel code on its website, resulting in patients receiving targeted ads.

April 17, 2024

Massive data trove from Change Healthcare hack now for sale on dark web

Cybercriminal group RansomHub claims to have protected health information from nearly every American.

April 17, 2024
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Change Healthcare faces second ransom as cybercriminals leak stolen data

A new hacker group is claiming credit for the data breach, first reported in February. Change Healthcare has already paid criminals a $22 million ransom.

April 16, 2024
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This week in the Change Healthcare situation: A recap and update in 10 notable quotes

‘I have all kinds of nightmare scenarios playing out in my head, like how am I going to pay my bills?’

March 29, 2024
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This week in the Change Healthcare hack fallout: 10 notable quotes

“ALPHV/BlackCat and their affiliates haven’t attacked Change Healthcare. This time, they’ve attacked our families.”

March 21, 2024

Around the web

Half a year after President Biden officially directed federal agencies in the executive branch’s bailiwick to “seize the promise and manage the risks” of AI, the White House has posted a status report.

U.S. physicians often receive payments from medical device manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies. New research in JAMA found a connection between receiving such payments and using specific devices—should the industry be concerned? 

Five of the largest U.S. medical societies focused on cardiovascular health are one step closer to seeing their paradigm-shifting proposal become a reality.

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