Hospitals are particularly vulnerable targets for computer attacks due to their growing reliance on information technology. The deployment of IT technologies within the hospital has gradually irrigated all departments: administrative management, then technical services and finally the care units themselves. Today, the vast majority of processes and operations are managed by computer tools and networks: management of admissions and discharges, measurement and treatment devices, monitoring and archiving of medical files, payment of fees, reimbursement of social security and insurance, accounting and payroll, purchases of supplies, etc.
Healthcare systems are increasingly connected, exposing them to many threats, including computer viruses, ransomware and hackers.
Hospitals are also prime targets for cybercriminals due to the value of certain data they store, such as medical records and patient financial information. They are mostly personal data. If hacked, this information can be stolen and used for malicious purposes, such as ransom or blackmail.
Computer security breaches in hospitals can have serious consequences for the health and lives of patients. For example, if a medical records management system is compromised, it can lead to errors in diagnosis and treatment, putting patients’ lives at risk. Likewise, if the hospital’s management systems are unavailable due to a computer attack, it can lead to delays and complications in the treatment of patients. Indeed, the rupture of service in the hospital exposes the patients to a vital risk which is an effective means of pressure to exert a blackmail.
If only in 2022, many hospitals have been targeted such as Versailles, Corbeil-Essonnes, Cœur Grand-Est, Ajaccio, Dax, Brest, or even that of Düsseldorf which cost the life of a patient. So many health establishments, targets of cyberattacks which have revealed and confirmed that they were privileged targets.
To protect their systems from cyber threats, hospitals should implement adequate security measures, such as multi-factor authentication, regular software updates, and employee training in computer security best practices.
Computer security breaches in hospitals are a serious problem that can have devastating consequences for the health and lives of patients.
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