Data Breach Today Podcast

The latest edition of the ISMG Security Report discusses how Australian health insurer Medibank is deliberating on whether to pay a ransom to extortionists, analyzes the growing number of layoffs in the security vendor space, and shares a tribute to threat intelligence researcher Vitali Kremez.

It's no secret: As pharmaceutical companies develop new health treatments, adversaries seek to steal or sabotage their intellectual property. This dynamic adds extra urgency to authentication. Tom Scontras of Yubico talks about how the pharma sector approaches authentication.

Security and ease of use: It is one thing for nonhealthcare entities to debate these merits of new authentication in solutions. But in healthcare, where the decisions directly affect patient safety, the stakes are critical. Tom Scontras of Yubico talks about how healthcare approaches authentication.

Many entities fight an uphill battle against increasingly clever phishing and related scams that lead to serious data compromises, say former CIA analyst Eric Cole and former Department of Justice Assistant Attorney General David Kris, who are both advisers at security firm Theon Technology.

Too many medical device makers don't pay close attention to the fine details and features of their product designs to ensure they are safe and secure, says Naomi Schwartz, a former product reviewer at the Food and Drug Administration and current cybersecurity adviser at security firm MedCrypt.

The latest edition of the ISMG Security Report discusses how Russian-speaking ransomware gangs have their eyes on a new target, offers the latest on Australia's data security reckoning and the government’s response, and outlines emerging trends in customer identity and access management.

Cyberattacks on healthcare entities result in poor patient outcomes, including delayed procedures and even a rise in mortality, according to a recent survey conducted by research firm the Ponemon Institute. Ryan Witt of Proofpoint, which sponsored the study, discusses the findings.

A study by data privacy firm Lokker found thousands of healthcare providers deploying Facebook Pixel and other similar tracking tools. Those trackers reveal "medical and other data that consumers don't know is being tracked and haven't authorized," says Ian Cohen, Lokker's chief executive officer.

Plan for a ransomware attack the same way you plan for a hurricane, says Paige Peterson Sconzo, director of healthcare services at security firm Redacted Inc. A cyber incident capable of disrupting network connectivity requires careful thinking about how to revert to the pre-internet era.

Security flaws in a vital signs monitoring device from a China-based manufacturer could allow hackers to launch an attack that spreads to all other devices connected to the same network. This is among the most serious security issues involving medical devices, says Jason Sinchak of Level Nine.