In 2023, cyber-attacks increased in the UK, and two major incidents made news in August. This shows that cybercriminals are not stopping and will target any business, including dental practices and GP surgeries.
PSNI – Data Breach
On 8th August 2023 personal information on all serving PSNI members was mistakenly published in response to a Freedom of Information request. This breach caused considerable concern as details of 10,000 police employees were released including home addresses, national insurance numbers, and their role in the freedom of information request. Despite swift removal from online platforms, the incident had sparked outrage and called for a thorough inquiry.
UK voters
In August, the UK Electoral Commission came under scrutiny due to a cyber-attack that compromised information from 40 million voters. This breach went undetected for a year and was not disclosed to the public for an extra 10 months. Discovered in October, the incident affected voter names and addresses spanning from 2014 to 2022. Although a significant portion of the data was already publicly available, there are growing worries regarding the sanctity of the electoral process. There are suspicions suggesting a state-sponsored attack, potentially originating from Russia. Consequently, the commission is intensifying its efforts to up cybersecurity.
WannaCry Ransom attack – The biggest cyber-attack on the healthcare industry
During the spring of 2017, a significant ransomware attack called WannaCry impacted many companies across the globe. It targeted over 200,000 computers in more than 150 countries. The UK incurred a cost of £92 million, contributing to the massive £6 billion global expenses. Notably, the attack heavily impacted the UK healthcare system, particularly the NHS. The WannaCry outbreak caused significant disruptions, bringing the NHS to a standstill for several days and affecting hospitals and GP surgeries throughout England and Scotland.
What we learned from this attack:
- Ransomware remains the most common cyber-attack method in the UK
- The health sector is a prime target for cybercriminals due to the high value of health records
- Tighter cyber security is required for out of the 200 NHS trusts, none passed the vulnerability inspection conducted after this attack
- Insufficient funding was the main reason for the data breach
Cyber-attacks are on the rise in 2023, affecting various businesses, including healthcare providers like dentists and doctors. The recent incidents involving PSNI and the UK Electoral Commission show how cybercriminals are targeting important information.
All Med Pro understands the importance of strong cybersecurity for healthcare. The WannaCry attack highlighted how much damage a cyber-attack can cause to healthcare systems. Ransomware attacks, like WannaCry, continue to be a big problem, so it’s crucial for healthcare facilities to have good security to protect themselves.
You can act now to protect your practice and patients. Reach out to All Med Pro for a consultation to improve your cybersecurity and keep your medical data safe. Booking a consultation today can help ensure a safer and more secure tomorrow. Don’t wait—book now to stay ahead of cyber threats.
To book a consultation: All Med Pro (office365.com)
To call us: 0203 757 6950
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