In 2020, while we were fighting the COVID-19, there were other infections, but they were in digital systems. Of course, we are talking about cyberattacks. Digital viruses can infect IT systems, causing them to malfunction and potentially disrupt life-saving processes. There is no honour among thieves. This applies to pandemics as well. As global technology company Acronis pointed out, ransomware was on the rise at the beginning of the COVID-19 epidemic.
A cohort study of 374 ransomware incidents revealed that the number of ransomware assaults on healthcare organizations increased from 43 in 2016 to 91 in 2021. This exposed the personal health data of almost 42 million patients. A cohort study of 374 ransomware attacks revealed that almost half of the attacks disrupted healthcare delivery. The most common problems included electronic system downtimes, cancellations and diversion of ambulances.
Decrypting ransomware is a powerful way to fight back
We are bombarded with news stories about these cases if we visit the HIPAA Cybersecurity page. While these attacks seem to be increasingly targeting large healthcare organizations they can have devastating effects on small clinics.
There is a new and exciting development to combat these attacks. Cybercriminals managed to hack into a 240-bed Ohio Hospital and encrypt its critical systems. These included the Electronic Health Record system (EHR), patient scheduling services and domain controllers that govern in-suite devices and medical devices.
Cyberattacks such as this can cause disruptions and emergency situations at a regional scale, with everyone suddenly facing increased wait times and overcrowded emergency departments.
Nubeva's case study states that the hospital was able to reverse encryption using LockBit and restore critical systems very quickly. The result was a rapid return to normal operation and minimal downtime. (…) The intervention resulted in significant financial savings to the hospital.
Cyberthreats are and will be increasingly important in the medical industry to prevent and better manage them. This is a particularly serious issue, as the world increasingly turns to digital solutions in order to solve capacity shortages.
These discussions shouldn't be centered around anti-malware and strengthening the IT infrastructure. Hacking healthcare facilities is not just a technological issue. It also has a large social component. We'll decrypt the reasons for this and look at additional steps that we can all take to secure healthcare institutions and their data.
The trend of ransomware attacks in the healthcare industry
Hackers are the ones who “infect” computers with ransomware, not pathogens. They infect computers with digital viruses or malware to encrypt important files. They can paralyse entire infrastructures because the information is not accessible until payment of the demanded demands, which are usually made through cryptocurrency.
Cyberattacks on hospitals had been common for years before the pandemic. In 2017, the WannaCry attack on 61 NHS facilities was one of the most high-profile. The WannaCry attack in 2017 caused cancellations of clinical appointments and operations, as well as loss of internet connectivity at hospitals. Patients were diverted from emergency departments and cancelled surgeries even a week after the incident. The trend continued in the years that followed.
Cyberthreats can have long-term effects. Ransomware was used to attack Rangely District Hospital in a critical access hospital that is a nonprofit. It rendered 5 years' worth of patient records unaccessible.
Not only are the cases on the rise, but also the demands. HIPAA statistics show that in 2021 the average ransomware payment for the healthcare industry will be $197,000, a 33% increase from 2020. According to Emsisoft, the average ransomware demand has increased from $5,000 in 2018 up to $200,000 today. Demands for ransoms exceeding $1 million dollars are becoming more frequent.
In light of these alarming trends, healthcare management should be better prepared to combat cybercrime. We must also understand that cybercrime is not just a technological issue, but also a social one.
Social Hacking as the Access Key
When thinking of a cyber-attack, you might think about the tech-savvy hackers from Mr. Robot or The Matrix may come to mind when thinking about a cyber attack. This popular notion in pop culture, however, is not the entire equation. Cyberattacks are a mix of “social hacking”.
HIPAA released some shocking statistics
- Phishing scams are responsible for more than 90% of cyberattacks on healthcare industries
- In a study simulating fake phishing attacks against healthcare organizations, healthcare employees clicked on nearly one in seven of the fake emails sent.
- Only 16% believe they are aware of the social engineering cyber threats.
- 45% of healthcare cyber professionals said that a phishing attempt was responsible for their most serious data breach. And:
- 71% of incidents were general email phishing. 67% involved spear phishing. 27% voice-phishing (vishing), 25% whaling. 23% business email compromise. 21% SMS phishing. 20% phishing websites. 16% social media.
Social hacking, or social engineering, is a method of circumventing security technologies by exploiting human psychology vulnerabilities. Kevin Mitnick, a famous hacker, calls humans “the weakest links in any security systems.” Mitnick popularised'social engineering in the 1990s and his scams show how this method can be used to breach tech systems.
In 1979, he gained access to the OS servers of Digital Equipment Corporation. He did this by pretending to be one of the main developers during a telephone call. He was given new credentials after claiming that he could not log in.
In 2016, a similar technique was used to take control of an email address at the U.S. Department of Justice. In 2016, a hacker, posing as a new employee at the Department of Justice (DoJ), gently convinced a colleague on the help desk to give him an access token to DoJ's intranet.
When considering ways to combat cyberthreats it is also important to educate staff about how they can be fooled. We'll examine the possible measures in the next section.
Humans are the best protection, not technology
Securing computerised systems within healthcare organisations requires investing in the right technological tools. Istvan Lam, the founder and CEO of Tresorit in Hungary, stressed this point. Lam said that prevention is a two-step process. First, healthcare organizations and institutions should protect themselves by using anti-virus software that includes anti-ransomware. It is important that everyone updates their operating systems and applications.
Globally, hundreds of billions of dollars are spent on cybersecurity tools. It is also important to spend a small fraction of this money on educating your employees about social hacking. Even CEOs can be vulnerable to cyberthreats, as Rapid7's study showed. In a company-simulated phishing attempt, 45 CEOs or 75% fell for the phishing scam.
There are ways to combat social hacking. Here are a few examples.
1. Cyberthreats: Increased exposure
Simulating cybersecurity threats more frequently is one way to raise awareness. Rapid7 observed that after experiencing suspicious activities, people had a strong urge to report any more.
2. Familiarize staff with one another
Experts also recommend that everyone, from top management down to new recruits, be included in cyberthreat awareness and training sessions. It's not uncommon for newcomers in an organization to be tricked into believing they're speaking with a senior executive about an urgent matter that requires a bypassing of normal protocol.
3. Red flags should be raised when you suspect suspicious activity
To counter cyber-attackers who hack into social media, train your employees to recognize and report red flags. Attackers use a variety of methods. For example, an email sent from the CEO's private email address is a red flag.
Cautionary cybersecurity measures
Of course, cyber security firms will tell you the most horrific horror stories to sell their product. Ransomware was used in a devastating attack on the Duesseldorf University Hospital, Germany in September 2020. A woman was sent to a different healthcare facility about 20 miles away due to the ransomware attack. The delay in receiving life-saving treatment was the cause of her death.
It was widely reported that this was the first death directly caused by a cyberattack. This story may serve as an encouragement to invest in expensive cybersecurity tools.
A few months later an investigation revealed that her death was due to her poor physical health. This means we should take all threats and cyber attacks with a grain of salt.
German law enforcement officials and cybersecurity experts agree that a cyberattack could cause a patient's death. Charles Carmakal, a Mandiant employee, said: “Every person knows that there is a line of morality that exists. When you act in a way that could potentially affect someone's life, you have crossed that line. This threat actor has crossed the line in a very obvious way. This group is heartless and relentless.
Cyberthreats to healthcare are not to be ignored. To protect both our medical facilities, and patients, we must strengthen the social and technical components of this problem. Patients should demand greater security for their data. Medical staff and management must take this seriously and become familiar with cybercrime techniques to combat it.
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How do they hack hospitals? Cyberthreats in the Digital Health Era first appeared on The Medical Futurist.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 5 Alternative Medical Systems?
Ayurveda is a system of alternative medicine that includes acupuncture, Ayurveda homeopathy, energy-healing, and aromatherapy.
To stimulate the flow and energy of qi (energy), Acupuncture uses fine needles that are inserted into specific points in the body.
Ayurvedic Medicine is an ancient system of health care based on balancing the three humors – air, fire, and water. It involves diet and exercise, herbal remedies as well massage and meditation.
Homeopathic Medicine's name derives from the Greek words homoios and pathos. Homeopaths believe every disease has natural causes. But not all symptoms. They prescribe small doses of substances to treat symptoms similar to those that are experienced when a person is ill.
Energy Healing is also known for Reiki, EFT Rolfing Therapeutic Touch, Rolfing and Rolfing. This therapy is based upon the belief that all of us are connected to a universal force of life called Ki. This Ki flows freely through us and makes us feel good. Energy healers use touch and intention to help restore balance and harmony between our physical, emotional, mental and spiritual selves.
Aromatherapy uses essential oils extracted from plants for therapeutic purposes. Aromatherapists believe that certain smells can alter mood and behavior. The most common essential oil used in aromatherapy is lavender.
What is a holistic doctor?
A holistic doctor is one who treats patients holistically. They may combine western medicine with traditional methods like acupuncture and herbs.
They want to treat an actual illness, and not just the symptoms. Patients should feel better after treatment.
Doctors should not just focus on treating the disease, but also helping to prevent future ones.
The term holistic refers to a person who considers all aspects in their life.
Is holistic healing safe?
Holistic Medicine is not as hazardous as you might think. However it does come with a few risks. Side effects include nausea, headaches, dizziness. drowsiness. diarrhea. constipation. These side effects must be understood and weighed against the potential benefits of alternative treatments like acupuncture.
There are no cases of death from holistic medicine.
As always, talk to your doctor before starting any new treatment plan.
What are alternative medicines?
Alternative medicine refers only to alternative treatments that are not considered to be effective in treating diseases. These include traditional Chinese medicine, homeopathy, chiropractic, acupuncture, herbal medicines, nutritional therapy, and energy healing techniques such as reiki.
Alternative medicine can also be defined as a practice that is not supported by scientific evidence, but which has been proven effective in clinical practice. You can use meditation, hypnosis and yoga to achieve this.
Can a holistic doctor write prescriptions?
Holistic medicine is based upon the belief that all diseases can be caused by a combination factors. This includes diet, lifestyle, environment stress, stress, emotions, genetics and other health-related issues.
A well-rounded approach to treating patients includes considering these variables when prescribing medication.
Understanding how each factor affects patients is essential for a physician to be able understand modern science as well as traditional methods such homeopathy and herbs.
Many doctors are certified to practice complementary and alternative medicine (C&A). This allows them offer a wide range of services to patients.
Statistics
- The use of alternative medicine in the US has increased, with a 50 percent increase in expenditures and a 25 percent increase in the use of alternative therapies between 1990 and 1997 in America. (en.wikipedia.org)
- These studies found that 38.4% concluded positive or possibly positive effects for CAM (12.4%), 4.8% concluded no effect, 0.7% concluded harmful effects, and 56.6% concluded insufficient evidence. (en.wikipedia.org)
- According to the World Health Organization, 80% of people use herbal medicine worldwide. (webmd.com)
- The concept of regression toward the mean implies that an extreme result is more likely to be followed by a less extreme result. (en.wikipedia.org)
- category.[111]Edzard Ernst characterized the evidence for many alternative techniques as weak, nonexistent, or negative and in 2011, published his estimate that about 7.4% were based on “sound evidence.” However, he believes that may be an overestimate. (en.wikipedia.org)
External Links
nccih.nih.gov
- Statistics on Complementary Health Approaches and Integrative Healthcare
- What's in a Name for Complementary, Alternative or Integrative Health?
liebertpub.com
- Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers
- Acupuncture for Treatment of Insomnia: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
doi.org
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- BIOFEEDBACK TRAINING, TENSION-TYPEHEADACHE – PubMed
- PubMed: Randomized controlled trial examining the effects of foot reflexology on hospital anxiety and depression in female older adults.
How To
What are the qualities of a qualified holistic physician?
How to find a good doctor who specializes in holistic medicine?
Specialization in a particular field is what makes doctors the best. In this case, we talk about holistic medicine. This means that doctors should be able to treat their patients holistically. It is important for them to understand how to treat the whole person, not just their symptoms. They must understand holistic health, and why you should see a holistic doctor.
A doctor must have a solid understanding of holistic health and complementary and alternate therapies (CAM). This includes acupuncture, chiropractic, massage therapy and yoga.
Holistic practitioners should also be capable of diagnosing your condition and explaining the available treatments to you so that you can make an informed decision about your treatment options.
Also, ask if the doctor holds certifications from professional associations such as the American Holistic Medical Association and the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork. The NBOHMCA provides certification in many areas, including naturopathic medicine, acupuncture, homeopathy, clinical nutrition, herbalism, and aromatherapy.
Our directory can help you find holistic practitioners in your area. You may be able search online to find a holistic physician near you if there aren't any listed.
Check with your local hospital to see if they offer holistic health care.
Visit your local library to find books and resources related to holistic health.
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This blog is a source of general information and discussion on health and related topics. Information and materials on this blog, on the website, or in any of the connected materials are not intended to replace or used as a substitute for the advice of a medical professional, diagnosis, or treatment. This blog does not represent the application of any nursing, medical or other health professional advice or diagnosis. We are unable to diagnose health conditions, offer second opinions or provide specific treatment recommendations via this blog or on our website.
If you or another person is suffering from a medical issue and you are concerned, consult your doctor or seek out other medical professional treatment as soon as possible. Do not disregard medical advice from a professional or delay seeking it due to information you seen on the blog or website or in any of the linked materials. If you're experiencing an emergency medical situation, dial 911 or seek emergency medical assistance on the closest phone immediately.
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By: Pranavsingh Dhunnoo
Title: How Do They Hack Hospitals? – Cyberthreats In The Digital Health Era
Sourced From: medicalfuturist.com/cyberthreats-to-hospitals-2021
Published Date: Tue, 20 Jun 2023 08:00:00 +0000
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 5 Alternative Medical Systems?
Ayurveda is a system of alternative medicine that includes acupuncture, Ayurveda homeopathy, energy-healing, and aromatherapy.
To stimulate the flow and energy of qi (energy), Acupuncture uses fine needles that are inserted into specific points in the body.
Ayurvedic Medicine is an ancient system of health care based on balancing the three humors – air, fire, and water. It involves diet and exercise, herbal remedies as well massage and meditation.
Homeopathic Medicine's name derives from the Greek words homoios and pathos. Homeopaths believe every disease has natural causes. But not all symptoms. They prescribe small doses of substances to treat symptoms similar to those that are experienced when a person is ill.
Energy Healing is also known for Reiki, EFT Rolfing Therapeutic Touch, Rolfing and Rolfing. This therapy is based upon the belief that all of us are connected to a universal force of life called Ki. This Ki flows freely through us and makes us feel good. Energy healers use touch and intention to help restore balance and harmony between our physical, emotional, mental and spiritual selves.
Aromatherapy uses essential oils extracted from plants for therapeutic purposes. Aromatherapists believe that certain smells can alter mood and behavior. The most common essential oil used in aromatherapy is lavender.
What is a holistic doctor?
A holistic doctor is one who treats patients holistically. They may combine western medicine with traditional methods like acupuncture and herbs.
They want to treat an actual illness, and not just the symptoms. Patients should feel better after treatment.
Doctors should not just focus on treating the disease, but also helping to prevent future ones.
The term holistic refers to a person who considers all aspects in their life.
Is holistic healing safe?
Holistic Medicine is not as hazardous as you might think. However it does come with a few risks. Side effects include nausea, headaches, dizziness. drowsiness. diarrhea. constipation. These side effects must be understood and weighed against the potential benefits of alternative treatments like acupuncture.
There are no cases of death from holistic medicine.
As always, talk to your doctor before starting any new treatment plan.
What are alternative medicines?
Alternative medicine refers only to alternative treatments that are not considered to be effective in treating diseases. These include traditional Chinese medicine, homeopathy, chiropractic, acupuncture, herbal medicines, nutritional therapy, and energy healing techniques such as reiki.
Alternative medicine can also be defined as a practice that is not supported by scientific evidence, but which has been proven effective in clinical practice. You can use meditation, hypnosis and yoga to achieve this.
Can a holistic doctor write prescriptions?
Holistic medicine is based upon the belief that all diseases can be caused by a combination factors. This includes diet, lifestyle, environment stress, stress, emotions, genetics and other health-related issues.
A well-rounded approach to treating patients includes considering these variables when prescribing medication.
Understanding how each factor affects patients is essential for a physician to be able understand modern science as well as traditional methods such homeopathy and herbs.
Many doctors are certified to practice complementary and alternative medicine (C&A). This allows them offer a wide range of services to patients.
Statistics
- The use of alternative medicine in the US has increased, with a 50 percent increase in expenditures and a 25 percent increase in the use of alternative therapies between 1990 and 1997 in America. (en.wikipedia.org)
- These studies found that 38.4% concluded positive or possibly positive effects for CAM (12.4%), 4.8% concluded no effect, 0.7% concluded harmful effects, and 56.6% concluded insufficient evidence. (en.wikipedia.org)
- According to the World Health Organization, 80% of people use herbal medicine worldwide. (webmd.com)
- The concept of regression toward the mean implies that an extreme result is more likely to be followed by a less extreme result. (en.wikipedia.org)
- category.[111]Edzard Ernst characterized the evidence for many alternative techniques as weak, nonexistent, or negative and in 2011, published his estimate that about 7.4% were based on “sound evidence.” However, he believes that may be an overestimate. (en.wikipedia.org)
External Links
nccih.nih.gov
- Statistics on Complementary Health Approaches and Integrative Healthcare
- What's in a Name for Complementary, Alternative or Integrative Health?
liebertpub.com
- Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers
- Acupuncture for Treatment of Insomnia: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
doi.org
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- BIOFEEDBACK TRAINING, TENSION-TYPEHEADACHE – PubMed
- PubMed: Randomized controlled trial examining the effects of foot reflexology on hospital anxiety and depression in female older adults.
How To
What are the qualities of a qualified holistic physician?
How to find a good doctor who specializes in holistic medicine?
Specialization in a particular field is what makes doctors the best. In this case, we talk about holistic medicine. This means that doctors should be able to treat their patients holistically. It is important for them to understand how to treat the whole person, not just their symptoms. They must understand holistic health, and why you should see a holistic doctor.
A doctor must have a solid understanding of holistic health and complementary and alternate therapies (CAM). This includes acupuncture, chiropractic, massage therapy and yoga.
Holistic practitioners should also be capable of diagnosing your condition and explaining the available treatments to you so that you can make an informed decision about your treatment options.
Also, ask if the doctor holds certifications from professional associations such as the American Holistic Medical Association and the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork. The NBOHMCA provides certification in many areas, including naturopathic medicine, acupuncture, homeopathy, clinical nutrition, herbalism, and aromatherapy.
Our directory can help you find holistic practitioners in your area. You may be able search online to find a holistic physician near you if there aren't any listed.
Check with your local hospital to see if they offer holistic health care.
Visit your local library to find books and resources related to holistic health.
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