The annual number of ransomware attacks on health care delivery organizations more than doubled from 2016 to 2021, exposing the personal health information of nearly 42 million patients, according to the results of this study of 374 ransomware attacks. During the study period, ransomware attacks exposed larger quantities of personal health information and grew more likely to affect large organizations with multiple facilities. Current monitoring/reporting efforts provide limited information and could be expanded to potentially yield a more complete view of how this growing form of cybercrime affects the delivery of health care.
Authors: Hannah T. Neprash, Ph.D., of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, is the corresponding author.
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(doi:10.1001/jamahealthforum.2022.4873)
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