Hackers targeted healthcare organizations with ransom demands ranging from $4,000 to $10 million, according to Comparitech.
Cybersecurity
Ransomware attacks have imposed significant financial burdens on U.S. healthcare providers, with an estimated $21.9 billion lost to downtime alone since 2018, according to Comparitech.com.
Healthcare continued to be plagued by hackers and data leaks in 2024, with the industry experiencing its largest-ever cyberattack in February.
College Hospital Costa Mesa reported that 591 individuals were affected by a data breach of its IT systems on Sept. 17.
HHS plans to modify HIPAA to better safeguard the healthcare industry from hackers.
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The Biden administration is seeking tighter cybersecurity regulations after the Salt Typhoon hack in October, according to USA Today.
The average cost of a healthcare data breach decreased slightly in 2024, according to the American Hospital Association's 2025 Environmental Scan report.
A dual Russian-Israeli national has been charged in connection with the LockBit ransomware group, which has targeted thousands of victims worldwide, including hospitals.
The May 8 ransomware attack on St. Louis-based Ascension has affected 5.6 million individuals.
The United States is seeking to extradite an Israeli man wanted for participating in a ransomware group that has hacked hospitals, Ynetnews reported Dec. 19.