| Planned Parenthood confirmed a cyberattack targeting its IT systems, which forced parts of its network offline as a precaution. The incident is currently under investigation, and while it’s unclear if data was stolen, the RansomHub ransomware group has claimed responsibility, threatening to leak 93GB of sensitive data. This breach highlights serious privacy concerns, given Planned Parenthood’s role in providing reproductive health services, including contraception, abortion care, and hormone therapy. Security experts share their thoughts on this latest development. Comments by: Thomas Richards, principal consultant at the Synopsys Software Integrity Group The attack on Planned Parenthood continues the unsettling trend of healthcare providers being targeted by ransomware groups. We see an increase in breaches from different industry verticals as ransomware gangs target organisations that have less robust cybersecurity practices. With how sensitive the breached information is, patients of Planned Parenthood should register for credit monitoring services and be mindful of any medical claims made Comments by: Check Point Software Technologies Alarmingly, there is a growing trend of hackers targeting hospitals and healthcare providers. Between January and August, organisations faced an average of over 2,000 cyberattacks per week—a 31% increase from the previous year. The healthcare sector remains the #1 most attacked industry for ransomware attacks, with North America accounting for 58% of all reported incidents globally. The main reasons healthcare is targeted are: Sensitive personal identifiable information (PII) is stored by healthcare organisations – patient data, social security numbers Healthcare is a critical industry that cybercriminals assume will be more likely to pay the ransom Many healthcare organisations use outdated technology and software, making them vulnerable to cyberattacks |