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Notable Healthcare Cyber Attacks

November 29, 20232 min read

The healthcare industry is a prime target for cyberattacks because it stores a wealth of sensitive data, including patient records, financial information, and intellectual property. In recent years, there have been a number of high-profile cyberattacks against healthcare organizations that have had a significant impact on patients, providers, and the healthcare system as a whole.

Some of the most notable cyberattacks against the healthcare industry include:

  • Medibank data breach (2022): This breach affected 9.7 million customers, including 1.8 million international customers. Hackers stole personal information, including names, dates of birth, social security numbers, and medical records.

    Medibank data breach

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    www.lawyersweekly.com.au Medibank data breach

  • Trinity Health data breach (2020): This breach affected 586,869 patients. Hackers stole personal information, including names, addresses, and Social Security numbers.

    Trinity Health data breach

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    www.westernmassnews.com Trinity Health data breach

  • Anthem data breach (2015): This breach affected 79 million people, making it the largest healthcare data breach in history. Hackers stole personal information, including names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and medical records.

    Anthem data breach

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    www.bankinfosecurity.com Anthem data breach

  • Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center ransomware attack (2016): This attack forced the hospital to cancel elective surgeries and divert ambulances for several days. The hospital eventually paid a ransom of $17,000 to get its systems back online.

    Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center ransomware attack

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    en.wikipedia.org Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center ransomware attack

  • WannaCry ransomware attack (2017): This global attack affected thousands of organizations, including many healthcare providers. The attack caused widespread disruptions to patient care and cost billions of dollars in damages.

    WannaCry ransomware attack

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    en.wikipedia.org WannaCry ransomware attack

These are just a few examples of the many cyberattacks that have targeted the healthcare industry. As cyber threats continue to evolve, it is important for healthcare organizations to take steps to protect their data and systems from attack.

Here are some tips for healthcare organizations to protect themselves from cyberattacks:

  • Implement strong security policies and procedures.

  • Educate employees about cybersecurity risks.

  • Use up-to-date security software and patches.

  • Monitor networks for suspicious activity.

  • Have a plan for responding to cyberattacks.

By taking these steps, healthcare organizations can help to reduce their risk of falling victim to a cyberattack.

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