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.
Extreme Weather: The Maintenance-Resilience Link
Encompass Health Lower Providence Opens in Pennsylvania
Intermountain Health Acquires Fairbourne Building for Healthcare Hub and Medical Campus Conversion
Cooling Towers at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln Test Positive for Legionella
Prefabricated Wall Panels Accelerate UCF Lake Nona Medical Center Construction