Malwarebytes: 2019 Cybercrime Report for Healthcare Professionals

Malwarebytes released its 2019 Healthcare Cybercrime Report based on telemetry data collected from October 2018 to September 2019. The healthcare industry is currently ranked as the seventh most targeted industry, however, overall malware volume in this industry is on the rise. Threat detections in this vertical have increased from approximately 14,000 in the second quarter of 2019 to more than 20,000 in the third quarter, a growth rate of 45%.

The healthcare industry is a target for Trojan malware, with an 82% increase in Trojan malware in the third quarter of 2019 compared to the previous quarter.

Of the four regions in the U.S., healthcare organizations in the West were the top targets for malware, accounting for 42% of all malware detections in the U.S. The Midwest was a close second (36%). However, detection rates were much lower in the South and Northeast, at 15% and 7%, respectively.

Last year, the top attack methods for cybercriminals seeking to infiltrate healthcare networks were compromising vulnerabilities in third-party vendor software, exploiting weak security systems by taking advantage of known vulnerabilities that had not yet been patched, and using tactics such as phishing to send malicious emails, attachments, and links.

The consequences of attacks on the healthcare industry far exceed those of any other organization, as stolen or modified patient data can cause critical procedures to cease, while devices locked by ransomware attacks can halt operations and sometimes even lead to patient deaths.

Innovations in connected biotech, including cloud-based biometrics, the Internet of Thought, and even advances in prosthetics, represent breakthroughs in healthcare. However, failing to consider security in the design can lead to dire outcomes. Therefore, it is important for biotech innovators to consider security at the foundation of the devices, platforms, and services themselves.

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