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 Cybercriminals have become more sophisticated, using malware, ransomware and spyware to attack outdated and vulnerable systems and software.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

Philips to introduce data recovery service

Royal Philips has announced plans to introduce a secure data recovery service, built in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS), that rapidly captures and backs up an entire healthcare organization's data repository in the cloud.

Obama names leaders of federal cybersecurity commission

President Obama has appointed former White House national security adviser Tom Donilon and former IBM chief executive Sam Palmisano to lead a new commission to strengthen U.S. cyber defences over the next decade.

Alliance Health breach affects 40,000 customers

A Salt Lake City-based company reported a data breach that left the information of 40,000 customers accessible on the internet for more than two years.

'Magic wand' aims to help protect patient data, devices

Dartmouth College researchers have developed a digital "magic wand" to improve home healthcare and to prevent hackers from stealing personal data.

FBI arrests suspect in 2014 Boston Children's Hospital cyberattack

The FBI has arrested a hacker suspected of participating in Anonymous' 2014 attack against Boston Children's Hospital, The Boston Globe reported.

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Ransomware: 5 prevention strategies for healthcare organizations

Protection from cyberattacks like ransomware begins with prevention and preparation: These five tips can help healthcare companies stay ahead of the hackers and protect their electronic data.

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Watchdog calls for stronger FDA to thwart would-be hackers of medical devices

In January, the FDA issued draft guidance advising medical-device manufacturers to think through cybersecurity concerns for the entire life cycle of each of their products. This week a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank called phooey on the advisement and urged the healthcare IT community to weigh in on the draft by its April 21 comments deadline.

Impostor sends phony CEO email, tricks healthcare provider into releasing employee data

A rehabilitation and nursing home healthcare provider in California has announced it mistakenly sent employee information to someone impersonating its CEO via email.

Around the web

Cardiovascular devices are more likely to be in a Class I recall than any other device type. The FDA's approval process appears to be at least partially responsible, though the agency is working to make some serious changes. We spoke to a researcher who has been tracking these data for years to learn more. 

Updated compensation data includes good news for multiple subspecialties. The new report also examines private equity's impact on employment models and how much male cardiologists earn compared to females.

When drugs are on the FDA’s shortage list, outsourcing facilities can produce their own compounded versions. When the FDA removed tirzepatide from that list with no warning, it created a considerable amount of chaos both behind the scenes and in pharmacies all over the country. 

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