A Look Back at 2023: Critical Cyber Threats in Healthcare
As we usher in 2024, it’s important to also reflect on a few incidents that shook up the threat landscape in 2023. Beyond just chronicling cyber threats, this recap spotlights some of the vulnerabilities and emerging threat actors that posed significant risks to healthcare organizations last year. By understanding these challenges, we can better prepare […]
Healthcare Cybersecurity Threats: November 2023
In November, new details emerged about the Okta incident, coinciding with the discovery of critical vulnerabilities in Orthanc software and Windows Defender SmartScreen. These vulnerabilities pose significant risks to healthcare organizations, their networks, patients, and data. Read on to explore these threats in-depth and how to mitigate them. Okta’s security breach update On November 3rd, […]
Healthcare Cybersecurity Threats: October 2023
More than 87 million. That’s the estimated number of patient records that have been compromised as of the end of October 2023, according to data gathered from the Office for Civil Rights (OCR). That’s a 55 percent year-over-year increase from 2022. Throughout the month of October, threat actors increasingly exploited vulnerabilities and used nefarious tactics […]
Healthcare Cybersecurity Threats: September 2023
Last month, three new cyber vulnerabilities emerged, posing a significant threat to healthcare organizations. Two were vulnerabilities from unpatched network technologies that, if exploited, could compromise both medical devices and patient care. The third was a new ransomware variant called “3AM” which poses a severe risk to healthcare organizations. Continue reading to learn more about […]
Top Cybersecurity Threats Facing Hospitals and How to Reduce your Risk
Every single facility that treats patients and gathers patient data is a target for a cyberattack, and this risk is growing. In just the first six months of 2023, more than 300 data breaches were reported to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights (OCR), an increase of more than […]
Healthcare Cybersecurity Threats: August 2023
Vulnerabilities from two very different IT manufacturers and device types were notable threats in August. They serve as a reminder that continuous patch management and replacement of End of Life (EOL) technology is fundamental to cybersecurity. The severity of these vulnerabilities should not be underestimated, as both allow significant access to the network and enable […]
Healthcare Cybersecurity Threats: July 2023
In July, cybercriminals increasingly targeted Linux systems and exploited new zero-day vulnerabilities in Citrix solutions. While threat actors never cease looking for new vulnerabilities to exploit, it’s worth noting that this surge in cyber activity aligns with the industry trend of retiring software products in the Fall. Both Windows and Google have products nearing their […]
Healthcare Cybersecurity Threats: June 2023
During the summer months, threat actors often escalate their activities, taking advantage of staffing shortages among IT teams, and leaving many organizations more susceptible to an attack. This trend was particularly evident last month. As June unfolded, healthcare cybersecurity teams found themselves navigating critical network flaws and multiple patching vulnerabilities, including MOVEit, Fortinet, and Barracuda. […]
Biggest Healthcare Spam Threats (And How to Avoid Them)
The practice of spam began innocently enough in 1978 (yes, really), when Gary Thuerk, a marketing associate at Digital Equipment Corporation sent a promotional mass-email to 400 recipients touting the arrival of the company’s new T-series of VAX systems. The reaction was swift, fierce, and familiar: unadulterated annoyance. Today, the practice of spam continues in […]
