Cybersecurity Threats in Healthcare: Experts Share Insights on the Paralyzing Impacts of Hackers Hostage-Taking Medical Data

In today’s NPR program, the focus is on the concerning trend of hackers targeting healthcare institutions. These cybercriminals are paralyzing hospitals by holding medical information hostage, putting patients’ lives at risk in the process.

Joining the discussion are Andy Greenberg, a senior writer for WIRED who specializes in hacking, cybersecurity, and surveillance. His latest book, Tracers in the Dark: The Global Hunt for the Crime Lords of Cryptocurrency, sheds light on the world of cybercrime. 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, also shares his insights.

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 growing threat and what experts are doing to combat it!