The map shows vulnerabilities for healthcare companies in London

Healthcare is one of the prime targets for cyber attacks including ransomware for a number of reasons including:

• the amount of sensitive data stored by healthcare companies
• the software used is often not the latest, patched versions or is just out of date
• the perceived ability of the companies to pay large amounts

The map above shows instances of a specific port (which I won’t name), which is used in healthcare and is essential for transmitting, storing, and retrieving medical images and related information.

The trouble is the dots on the map show open ports i.e. without further security measures in place cybercriminals can gain unauthorised access. It’s a shocker is it not?

This can lead to

• Data Breaches: Exposed data can lead to breaches of patient confidentiality, resulting in legal consequences, financial penalties, and damage to the organization’s reputation.
• Data Manipulation: Malicious entities might alter medical images or associated metadata, leading to misdiagnoses or inappropriate treatments.
• Ransomware Attacks: Cybercriminals can use open ports to deploy ransomware, encrypting vital medical data and demanding a ransom for its release.
• Service Interruptions: Unprotected servers can be vulnerable to denial-of-service (DoS) attacks, disrupting medical services and patient care.

This is just one vulnerability I checked too. There are plenty of others that are used by healthcare that hackers can use free or very cheap tools to discover. Don’t let them!

To mitigate these risks, healthcare organizations should implement robust security measures such as firewalls, encryption, access controls, and regular security audits.

Do you know anyone that works in healthcare? Be sure to share this post with them.

Contact SME Cyber today for cost-effective ways to secure your healthcare, or other, business before the hackers get there first.