Cyber criminals are pouncing on sensitive patient data amid the COVID-19 crisis sweeping across the country using 'double extortion.'
It's happening with a frightening frequency according to experts.
Sophisticated cyber hackers are targeting hospitals and healthcare companies and really increasing their efforts.
TARGETING...HEALTHCARE INFORMATION...THANKS FOR JOINING US..I'M TRICIA KEAN..AND I'M TODD QUINONES...ONE CYBER SECURITY COMPANYSAYS..BARTELS IS LIVE...AT MOUNTAIN VIEWHOSPITAL NEAR THE 95 ANDCHEYENNE TO EXPLAIN..JOE?TODD AND TRICIA..WE'RE TOLD IT DOESN'T MATTER..WHAT HOSPITAL..OR MEDICAL FACILITY..HACKERS..
ARE AFTER..ELECTRONIC PATIENT DATA..WHICH SELLS FOR HUNDREDS OFDOLLARS..PER PERSON..ON THE DARK WEB.IT'S HAPPENING WITH AFRIGHTENING FREQUENCY..SOPHISTICATED CYBER HACKERS..TARGETING HOSPITALS ANDHEALTHCARE COMPANIES..MORE THAN 40 MILLION ELECTRONICMEDICAL RECORDS WERE EXPOSED IN2019 ALONE ACROSS THE U-S!"THINK ABOUT A CREDIT CARDNUMBER THAT IS STOLEN...THAT SELLS ON THE DARK WEB FORA BUCK MAYBE TWO BUCKS BUT $250A POP BECAUSE YOU CAN CREATESOMEBODY'S IDENTITY WITH ANELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORD." CHECK POINT SOFTWARETECHNOLGIES..A COMPANY SPECIALIZING INFORTIFYING INFORMATION...FORALMOST 30 YEARS..SAYS MEDICAL INFORMATION IS ATREASURE TROVE..NAMES..ADDRESSES..DATE OF BIRTHS..SOCIAL SECUIRTY NUMBERS..ARE PRIME FOR THE PICKING."SO IT'S KIND OF SCARY, DUE TOCOVID- 19 RIGHT NOW OUR HEALTHWORRIED ABOUT A NEW RANSOM WARECAMPAIGN." EXPERTS SAY HACKERS ARE DOINGSOMETHING CALLED..DOUBLE...EXTORTION..THEY STEAL DATA FROM HEALTHCAREPROVIDERS...AND THEN DEMAND A RANSOM TORETURN THE DATA AND HIJACKEDSYSTEMS..
IF NOT..THE DATA IS SLOWLY LEAKED ONTHE DARK WEB...FOR SALE.."THAT IS A PRIME CONCERN OFOURS TO KEEP MEDICALINFORMATION SAFE AND SECURE." MICHAEL GAGNON..IS WITH HEALTHIE NEVADA..A NOT FOR PROFITORGANIZATION..THAT HELPS HEALTHCAREPROVIDERS..AND PATIENTS..TO SECURE RECORDS..AND STREAMLINE..
SHARING LIKE..TEST RESULTS..
AND OTHER DATA."THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VEBEEN WORKING ON FOR A LONG TIMERECORDS COULD BE GREATLYIMPROVED BY REALLY CONNECTINGEVERYONE IN THE STATE." DOZENS OF HOSPITALS ANDHEALTHCARE PROVIDERS ARE USINGHEALTHIE NEVADA..ALREADY..MICHAEL SAYS..THE SYSTEM IS AN OPT-IN STYLE.PROGRAM..AND IS PROVIDING CRUCIAL..REAL TIME PATIENT INFOHOSPITALS..AMID THE COVID-19 CRISIS.EXPERTS SAY..BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL CLICKINGON ANY LINKS IN EMAILS..OR DOWNLOADING ATTACHMENTS THATYOU AREN'T EXPECTING.JOE BARTELS 13 ACTIONNEWS.RIGHT NOW..POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING AFTER