More than 50 countries warn of cyber extortion targeting hospitals

The World Health Organization (WHO) and more than 50 countries warned on November 8 about a rise in cyber extortion activities targeting hospitals.

At a UN Security Council meeting, WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus said that cyberattacks on the health sector have increased in both scale and frequency, AFP reported on November 8. “Cybercrime, including ransomware, poses a serious threat to international security. Such attacks on hospitals should be viewed as a matter of life and death,” Mr. Ghebreyesus said.

Ransomware is a form of cyber extortion in which hackers infiltrate and encrypt data of victims, including individuals and businesses, then demand a ransom if the victim wants to restore the data.

WHO and more than 50 countries warn of cyber attacks on hospitals

More than 50 countries have signed a joint statement, warning of the threat and stressing the importance of international cooperation in combating cyber extortion.

“These attacks pose a direct threat to public safety and endanger human lives by delaying vital health care services, causing significant economic damage and potentially posing a threat to international peace and security,” the joint statement said.

The WHO Director-General said health facilities are a favorite target for ransomware attackers, due to the digital transformation of health systems, the high value of health data, increased health needs, and limited resources.

The head of the European Union (EU) delegation called on countries to make efforts to reduce cybercrime activities and prevent crimes from being committed on their territory.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/hon-50-quoc-gia-canh-bao-tong-tien-mang-nham-vao-benh-vien-185241109073634215.htm