Healthcare organizations have experienced a significant transformation, transitioning from paper-based records to digital systems. This change enables medical records to be accessed and updated anytime, improving coordination among hospitals, clinics, and specialists.
Despite the advantages, digital storage poses significant challenges, particularly the risk of data breaches. The vast amounts of sensitive information stored by hospitals and health insurance companies make them attractive targets for cybercriminals.
According to the HIPAA Journal, data breaches have steadily risen. In 2022, 720 incidents exposed over 500 records each, increasing to 725 breaches and 133 million compromised records in 2023. A ransomware attack on Change Healthcare in 2024 affected an estimated 100 million individuals.
Why Hackers Target Medical Records
1. Medical Data’s High Value
Healthcare systems store a wealth of sensitive data, including names, social security numbers, medical histories, and insurance details. Unlike credit card numbers, which can be replaced, personal details like social security numbers are permanent, enabling long-term fraud.
This article has been indexed from CySecurity News – Latest Information Security and Hacking Incidents
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