Cyber Security: hospitals hardest hit in 2020
In 2020, there was a worldwide surge in the number of cyber attacks affecting the healthcare sector. The Covid-19 pandemic made hospitals, healthcare organisations and vaccine distribution centres very attractive targets for cyber criminals, who wasted no time in exploiting the situation.
Already on its knees due to the coronavirus, the healthcare sector was forced to deal with threats from the digital world too. Many of these problems involved so-called ransomware (Ryuk and Sodinokibi being two of the most commonly used), which enables criminals to steal sensitive data and demand sizeable ransoms for its return to the legitimate owners.
Cyber attacks on the healthcare sector: worrying statistics
Due to pressure resulting from the continuous rise in the number of Covid-19 cases and the need to prepare vaccination programs as quickly as possible, worldwide healthcare organisations have become extremely vulnerable.
An organisation which finds its computers blocked during such a delicate time is more likely to pay the exorbitant amounts of money demanded by the criminals. Hackers around the world quickly realised this and focused their attention on all sectors connected with healthcare.
According to a recent report, cyber attacks in the healthcare sector increased by 45% in 2020. This is a very worrying figure which is double the average increase recorded in industrial sectors (+22% circa). During November 2020 there were as many as 626 attacks per week, compared to an average of around 430 per week in the previous months.
These IT security breaches have been recorded all over the world and Central Europe is confirmed as the hardest hit with an increase of 145%. East Asia is the runner-up with a 137% rise, then Latin America with 112%, the rest of Europe with a 67% increase and finally North America with a 37% increase.
Among the hardest hit nations, Canada has been the worst affected, recording an increase in attacks of over 250%. Germany is in second place with a 220% increase followed by Spain in third place with a 100% increase, while Italy has witnessed an increase of 81%.
The statistics are shocking, but what is really worrying is that experts predict an even worse scenario in 2021. In fact, the trend of cyber attacks in the healthcare sector seems in destined to continue and expand, focussing particularly on vaccine distribution; a crucial step in the fight against the pandemic.
Cyber attacks in 2021: healthcare will not be the only sector involved
In addition to the dangerous cyber attacks involving the healthcare sector this year, international governments will have to be very cautious with other national infrastructures. IT security experts have highlighted distance learning and remote working as likely targets.
The continual lockdowns and social distancing imposed to contain the wave of infections have obliged students and workers to use the internet in order to continue their activities. However, a lack of knowledge and the failure to take correct measures to guarantee the online security of devices and connections combine to create an elevated risk.
It is therefore essential to take action, by increasing people’s awareness of the dangers of the web. The use of third party platforms and the use of personal devices (usually the most vulnerable) should be discouraged during remote working.
The year 2021 will see more differentiated cyber attacks according to type and frequency, capable of causing serious damage, whether in a digital sense or not. As suggested in the report, without the appropriate measures, this threat to IT could gain the upper hand, leading to a rapid deterioration of the situation.
Translated by Joanne Beckwith