Hospitals at risk as experts predict surge in cyberattacks

Cybersecurity experts are warning that hospitals in the United States are at risk for cyberattacks, which could put lives in danger. Criminals are increasingly targeting hospitals for hefty ransoms, and the U.S. government is accused of not doing enough to prevent such breaches. Hospitals have become a favorite target for internet thieves due to their increased use of online technology, such as telehealth, medical devices, and patient records. These cyberattacks are often carried out by foreign criminals based in countries like Russia, North Korea, and Iran. The number of attacks on hospitals has been rising, with an average payout increasing from $5,000 in 2018 to $1.5 million in 2023. Cybersecurity analysts believe that the problem will worsen unless more meaningful action is taken by governments. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is developing new rules for hospitals to protect against cyber threats, and it is considering new cybersecurity requirements for hospitals’ Medicaid and Medicare funding.

Cybersecurity experts are warning that hospitals around the country are at risk for attacks like the one that is crippling operations at a premier Midwestern children’s hospital, and that the U.S. government is doing too little prevent such breaches.