Security News > 2020 > December > Healthcare 2021: Cyberattacks to Center on COVID-19 Spying, Patient Data

Intellectual property theft will join ransomware, cloud-stored patient data theft and advanced phishing efforts as the main hallmarks of medical-related healthcare cyberattacks for the new year.

These cyberattacks will have ramifications for geopolitics, with the "Attribution of attacks entailing serious consequences or aimed at the latest medical developments is sure to be cited as an argument in diplomatic disputes."

"The focus on digital security in hospitals offers hope that 2021 will be the year when cybersecurity and healthcare join forces," said Namestnikova.

Other Kaspersky predictions include a rise in patient data leaks from cloud services, thanks to medical organizations' ongoing transition to cloud infrastructures and storage of personal information in them.

"The human factor is one of the most important components of many attacks, and information about new regulatory restrictions, potential treatments and patient health will continue to attract user attention. Leaked medical records will also become part of the hook in targeted attacks, since accurate patient information will make fake messages far more credible."

News URL

https://threatpost.com/healthcare-2021-cyberattacks-covid-19-patient-data/161776/