A letter from the Federal Bureau of Investigation warns healthcare providers many of their cybersecurity systems are lagging behind systems used in other industries, making the healthcare industry more vulnerable to cyberattacks, according to Reuters.
The healthcare industries' lax cybersecurity measures are concerning, as patients' health information is often very desirable for hackers because it many times contains details that allow hackers to commit identity theft and even obtain prescriptions for controlled substances, according to the report.
The threat of cyberattack is not unknown to the healthcare industry. On April 1, the Health Information Trust Alliance led HHS and several healthcare industry stakeholders in the first of a series of simulated cyberattacks to gauge the industry's response and preparedness against online threats, and engage stakeholders in developing and implementing cybersecurity best practices.
More Articles on Cybersecurity:
Healthcare Enrollees Vulnerable After Cybersecurity Breach
4 Steps to Mitigate Data Security Risks, Maintain HIPAA Compliance
Physicians Using Android Smartphones Are Vulnerable to Heartbleed Security Breach, Warn Experts