From Ransomware to Espionage: The Increasing Threat of Cyberattacks in Health Care

Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting health care institutions, putting patients’ lives at risk by holding medical information hostage. This alarming trend is the focus of a special program on your NPR station today.

Joining the discussion are Andy Greenberg, a senior writer for WIRED who specializes in hacking, cybersecurity, and surveillance, and Dr. Jeffrey Tully, an anesthesiologist and pediatrician who serves as the co-director of the Center for Healthcare Cybersecurity at the University of California, San Diego. They share their insights on the growing threat of cyberattacks in the health care industry.

The program also features Lisa Watson, a nurse at Via Christi Ascension St. Francis in Wichita, Kansas, who can speak to the impacts of cyberattacks on the front lines of health care. Dr. Saira Ghafur, the lead for Digital Health at the Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College London, offers a global perspective on the challenges posed by cybersecurity threats in the health care sector.

Tune in now to learn more about this dangerous trend and what experts are doing to combat it.