CYBERSECURITY
CYBER ATTACKS
IN THE
COVID-19 ERA
Vaccination and Covid testing programmes are helping to leave the door open to cyber attacks . We look at how the healthcare sector can prevent this .
WRITTEN BY : LEILA HAWKINS
Healthcare is an attractive area for cyber attackers . Security teams in healthcare organisations are typically smaller and less well-funded than in other sectors , and vast quantities of patient data is generated and accessed . An increased reliance on applications and data during the pandemic explains why cyber attacks have increased by 45 per cent globally since November 2020 .
“ The largest motivation for cyber attackers is financial gain ” says Alastair Williams , Director of Solutions Engineering for EMEA at Skybox Security . “ Patient information is incredibly valuable on the dark web . Identity theft is another reason . The more information you have , the more chances you have of being successful with assuming an individual ' s identity to register for bank accounts , credit cards or Amazon accounts .”
Blackmail is another motivation . “ There can be situations where people have information about their medical history or current medical condition they don ' t want in the public domain ” Williams explains . “ Maybe they ' re suffering from an illness that would jeopardise their opportunities , or a celebrity is seeking medical assistance privately .”
Another aspect that must be taken into consideration is espionage . “ There may be individuals looking to get a competitive gain with the development of Covid vaccines or types of treatment ” Williams says . healthcareglobal . com 41