In a new report on the state of healthcare data security, Malwarebytes reports that cyber criminals can use patient data to create "synthetic identities" according to an article on the Tech Republic website.
Synthetic identities are new, unique identities built from amalgamations of data taken from various individual records.
They can use this new identity to buy medical equipment, prescription drugs, get medical services, or even "combine a patient number with a made-up name of a health provider to file medical insurance claims," the report said.
Cyber criminals have even used x-ray machines to launch malware attacks.
CRAB Alert: The EVS Role in Preventing Infection
Why Hospital Waiting Rooms Aren't Going Away
Ground Broken on Mount Sinai Tisch Cancer Hospital
Design, Compartmentation, Training: How Defend-in-Place Strategies Can Protect Patients
Milestone Marked with Topping Out Ceremony for BayCare Hospital Manatee