Hack Attack On Hospital System Highlights Need For Device Cybersecurity

Chinese hackers recently broke into Community Health Systems’ IT system and stole patient data. Although they did not take device data in this instance, the hackers might have been after that, experts suggest, highlighting vulnerabilities for industry.

A group of Chinese cybercriminals who hacked into the nationwide Community Health Systems Inc. hospital network this summer likely were going after “valuable intellectual property, such as medical device and equipment development data,” CHS explained in an Aug. 18 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Ultimately, the hackers stole 4.5 million patients’ personal data, including their names, addresses and social security numbers, but no medical or device-specific data. However, cybersecurity experts are warning that many device companies remain vulnerable to this sort of crime.

The hospital system reported in its 8K filing that its forensic expert, Mandiant, believes the April and June...

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