1. Medtech Insight
  2. >>Digital Technologies
  3. >>Cybersecurity

Expert: New Ransomware Has Potential To Shut Down Medical Devices

A Symantec cybersecurity expert says that while there have been no reports so far of medical devices being affected by the new Petya ransomware worm, device companies should not underestimate its threat and need to work with partners, including hospitals, to prevent potential harm to patients.

Cyber Security_1200x675

A new version of the ransomware called "Petya" could adversely affect medical devices, although there have so far been no reports of it doing so yet, according to a security expert. The worm is very similar to the WannaCry ransomware that hijacked hospital medical records around the world several months ago and has the potential to have a similar, if not more devastating, effect on health-care systems.

Initial reports found the Petya worm spreading across computer systems in the Ukraine on June 27 using a tax and...

Read the full article – start your free trial today!

Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on Medtech Insight for daily insights

  • Start your 7-day free trial
  • Explore trusted news, analysis, and insights
  • Access comprehensive global coverage
  • Enjoy instant access – no credit card required
Start Free Trial

Already a subscriber?

More from Cybersecurity

Ultromics Wins $55M, The Key To Success: Diagnosing Diseases With Available Treatment

 
• By Natasha Barrow

Ultromics has secured $55m in Series C funding to advance its AI tool, EchoGo, which detects undiagnosed heart failure. The company's focus on diseases with available treatments resonated with investors.

Scores Of Companies On Board With Medicare Data Interoperability And Digital Health Initiative

 
• By Brian Bossetta

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has launched a new program the agency says will allow patients easier access to their health data. More than 60 companies have already signed on.

FDA Publishes Final Cybersecurity Guidance To Replace Final Cybersecurity Guidance

 
• By Brian Bossetta

The US FDA has issued an updated final guidance document on cybersecurity considerations for medical device manufacturers that replaces a previous final guidance the agency issued in 2023.

With LDT Rule DOA, Could FDA Shift Focus To RUOs?

 
• By Brian Bossetta

Now that the US FDA has chosen not to appeal a March ruling effectively killing the agency’s efforts to regulate lab-developed tests as medical devices, will the agency adopt a different strategy to flex its regulatory muscle?

More from Digital Technologies

PathAI Talks PCCPs: ‘Accelerated Software Updates, Saves Time And Money’

 
• By Natasha Barrow

The US FDA has authorized around 107 devices with Predetermined Change Control Plans in place, with PathAI's AISight Dx digital pathology image management system one of the latest. Medtech Insight talks to Eric Walk, chief medical officer, to find out about the process and its benefits.

SpotitEarly Sets Up US HQ, Launches Trials For Dog- And AI-Powered Early Cancer Detection Test

 
• By Marion Webb

Among early cancer screening tests, SpotitEarly stands out by combining dogs’ superior sense of smell with machine learning. SpotitEarly plans two US clinical trials for breast and lung cancer aiming to seek FDA clearance, but needs more funding to support clinical development and commercialization.

Ultromics Wins $55M, The Key To Success: Diagnosing Diseases With Available Treatment

 
• By Natasha Barrow

Ultromics has secured $55m in Series C funding to advance its AI tool, EchoGo, which detects undiagnosed heart failure. The company's focus on diseases with available treatments resonated with investors.