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 Cybercriminals have become more sophisticated, using malware, ransomware and spyware to attack outdated and vulnerable systems and software.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.

ACC breach affects 1,400 provider groups

The American College of Cardiology has notified 1,400 institutions that some of their patient data may have been compromised after inadvertently being made available to a third-party vendor.

Ransomware's impact growing

Ransomware isn't just affecting a few organizations here and there.

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How cybercriminals are going pro

Cybercriminals are establishing professional businesses and adopting corporate best practices, according to Symantec’s Internet Security Threat Report.

Fla. breach tied back to two employees' tax fraud scheme

The Florida Department of Health in Orange County has issued a security breach notice to patients of its health centers in the area.

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Providers pool resources to guard against cyberattacks

Healthcare providers are joining forces to fight the growing threat of online attacks on their data and information systems.

Philly health system breach due to employee error

Einstein Health Network has notified some 3,000 patients about a possible data breach after a website database was accidentally left accessible online, according to a Norristown Patch report.  

Brooklyn provider another victim of phishing email

Metropolitan Jewish Health System (MJHS) in Brooklyn, N.Y., was the victim of a phishing attack in January. 

Ransomware alert offers 7 preventive measures

The U.S. healthcare industry, as well as other businesses and individuals globally, are susceptible to the threat of ransonware and variants of the virus, according to an alert from the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team within the Department of Homeland Security and the Canadian Cyber Incident Response Centre.

Around the web

Compensation for heart specialists continues to climb. What does this say about cardiology as a whole? Could private equity's rising influence bring about change? We spoke to MedAxiom CEO Jerry Blackwell, MD, MBA, a veteran cardiologist himself, to learn more.

The American College of Cardiology has shared its perspective on new CMS payment policies, highlighting revenue concerns while providing key details for cardiologists and other cardiology professionals. 

As debate simmers over how best to regulate AI, experts continue to offer guidance on where to start, how to proceed and what to emphasize. A new resource models its recommendations on what its authors call the “SETO Loop.”