From automated ways to uncover hidden system weaknesses, phishing emails refined to near perfection and cyberattack “toolkits” to equip even the most beginner online crooks, see how the world now needs AI, to fight AI.
Now drawing on 30 years in IT, it’s incredible to watch how the greatest threat to modern cybersecurity in Australia concurrently transformed into our most powerful weapon against the same offenders. Today, Artificial Intelligence is the double-edged sword set to change how we tackle online safety in the healthcare industries.
While AI powered cyberattacks have increased at a concerning rate in the health and medical industries in Australia, the threat of cyberattacks in this sector has always been of significant concern. For example, there were close to 400 attacks on the US healthcare industry in just the first part of 2024.
Why Do Cybercriminals Target the Health and Medical Industries?
Believe it or not, personal health information is frequently considered more valuable than financial information on the black market. That’s because the specific data obtained in the health industry contains detailed information that holds a higher value for exchange. The result? A perfect blueprint for identify theft and fraud.
The sobering reality of these attacks goes beyond the increased costs that come with these kinds of data breaches, which can average millions of dollars per attack. The consequences of these cyberattacks in Australian healthcare in turn poses direct risks to patient safety and security by compromising critical healthcare services. In turn, this causes a significant and devastating ripple effect on patient care and outcomes.
The Role of AI in Healthcare Cybersecurity: Friend or Foe?
At present, the healthcare industry in Australia faces several types of AI-powered cyberattacks that capitalise on the vulnerabilities in medical systems and devices.
- Setting the bait for AI-enhanced phishing
In the same way AI helped you craft a tremendous email to your manager or colleagues, cybercriminals are increasingly using AI to create sophisticated phishing emails that appear totally legitimate. These emails can even be personalised using publicly available information, making them seem more convincing and succeeding at tricking recipients into divulging sensitive information or clicking malicious links.
- Effortless digging out weaknesses
With the added command of AI, cybercriminals deploy even greater and more automated methods of scanning vulnerabilities in the IT and cybersecurity setup. Through this, they can easily seek out unpatched or outdated software, misconfigured devices or any other areas within the system that can easily be exploited for unauthorised access. Harnessing the consummate power of AI once again, cybercriminal utilise AI to enhance ransomware attacks by optimising the best times to strike. By analysing network traffic patterns and user behaviours to maximise impact, they ensure an even higher likelihood of ransom payments.
- I spy, with my little AI
Most unnerving of all is the concept that cybercriminals are conducting extended surveillance on healthcare networks, working to gather critical information and intelligence over time. Think of a virtual stakeout that’s aided by AI and to make matters worse, it’s easier than ever now for online crooks to remain nearly always undetected. Then, when the stakeout changes to a full-on sleuth home invasion, AI can assist in secretly infiltrating the network and extracting sensitive data by mimicking normal user behaviour. Just more reason to lock your doors and invest in a solid security system.
- Cyber threats are now just a click away
What’s more of a concern is that now, it’s easier than ever for those with minimal technical expertise to launch a cyber-attack. The dark web has readily empowered even beginner cyber criminals with AI-powered attack kits available on the dark web, such as password cracking and automated phishing campaigns. To add to the arsenal, cybercriminals also use AI to acclimate the behaviour of malware to the environment it’s infiltrating, making it harder for traditional security measures to detect and counteract it.
It’s Time to Fight Fire with Fire
Today, as healthcare systems have become more dependent on digital technologies, the opportunities for cybercriminals to exploit vulnerabilities grow. As a result, employing only traditional cybersecurity measures are not always going to be as effective as they once were. Healthcare organisations must invest in advanced medical IT solutions that incorporate AI for threat detection and response, with the added expertise of IT and cybersecurity professionals who specialise in this field. So, in the same way that AI poses a greater threat for cybersecurity, it can also be the vessel that helps protect against these same attacks. Through functions such as algorithms that detect threats, predictive analysis that leverages historical data to predict any potential breaches and AI-powered network monitoring, organisations can empower themselves to remain as vigilant as is possible in the 21st century.
If you need more information on how we use AI to counteract cyberthreats in the health and medical industries, please contact our Australia-based IT consultants. We have been providing medical IT support in Melbourne and Perth for 30+ years, trusted by many leading healthcare service providers.
Reference:
- https://www.aha.org/news/aha-cyber-intel/2024-10-07-look-2024s-health-care-cybersecurity-challenges
