In the hospital or healthcare environment, this means access to EHRs is locked until payment is made. Ransomware, a type of malware, does something different - it locks users out of their computer or system while demanding payment (ransom) for regained access to data, information, and files. How each type of malware attack effects the healthcare system, however, can vary from stealing data and information all the way to harming host computers and networks. Malware can enter a healthcare system’s IT network in a variety of ways - via downloads, phishing attacks, software vulnerabilities, through encrypted traffic, and more. Make sure it’s a verified healthcare professional on the other end. Physicians should closely examine any EHR file-share requests before sending anything.Not clicking links within an email that’s either mismatched or has a Top-Level Domain (TLD) (the last segment of the domain name after the dot) associated with suspicious sites.Being aware that emails that seem to come from a company or service your healthcare team commonly works with, may be a phishing scam.Educating all healthcare professionals on what to look for and what to avoid.Protect your EHR from phishing attacks by: Healthcare professionals must be taught how to identify phishing attacks, but keep in mind that these threats are becoming more sophisticated when it comes to EHRs.

Phishing attacks often come through email in an attempt to lure the user to click a link and reveal login credentials and/or they will deposit some kind of malware.

And while these electronic records allow physicians, healthcare professionals, and insurance companies to share information - a process that makes it easier to provide cross-coverage care and bill insurance - their sensitive and patient-care-centered content makes them a primary target for a variety of security threats and vulnerabilities, including these 5 EHR cybersecurity threats : 1. Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) contain a massive amount of sensitive information about a patient’s identity, medical health, and medical history.

The cons of electronic medical records