I Probably Shouldn’t Click on That

May 8, 2020

Cyber attackers double down on healthcare sector during coronavirus public health emergency

Well before the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, the healthcare sector was a top target for cyberattacks. Now with the public health emergency, cyberattacks are on the rise, including impersonation schemes, such as fake announcements by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and look-alike URLs.

During three days in March, cybercriminals shut down the computers at the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District in Illinois. The hackers were holding the system hostage while demanding a ransom. 

There has also been a surge in phishing attempts. Hackers know the enormous pressure many health professionals are under at this time and that they might more readily click on something they shouldn’t, which allows cyber criminals to infiltrate critical infrastructure systems by stealing credentials.

Health professionals and health systems should remain vigilant as the pandemic continues to spawn cybersecurity threats and challenges to the healthcare industry.