Latest news with #RobHughes
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Why Healthcare Gets Hit Hardest With Cyberattacks
Our health data is some of the most confidential information we have, and the systems that most healthcare companies use to protect it from cybercrooks are somewhat sickly. Thanks to a toxic mix of aging hardware, outdated software and shoestring operating budgets, they're increasingly susceptible to cybercriminals who are not only lured by a gold mine of data but also armed with state-of-the-art hacking tools, experts told The Daily Upside, leading to some of the largest data breaches in history. And the risks extend far beyond lost data and eye-popping ransom payments. 'There's really a direct danger to patient care and life,' says Rob Hughes, chief information security officer at security firm RSA. 'That's as serious as you can get. It's a different type of pressure.' READ ALSO: NBA Finals Kick Off With an Old (Footwear) Friend and Tariffs Deliver Record Drop in US Trade Deficit Statistics back him up: Last year was a landmark for healthcare data breaches. According to HIPAA Journal, there were 14 attacks involving the records of 1 million or more patients in 2024, exposing the records of more than 237 million individuals altogether. The biggest healthcare breach in history occurred only two months into the year, when ransomware attackers stole the data of 190 million people from Change Healthcare in February. 'There are a lot of vulnerabilities that healthcare organizations don't even realize they have,' said Alpesh Shah, vice president of security strategic alliance at Myriad360. 'Every individual who is touching a smart device is vulnerable to bring some sort of threat to the organization.' The technological advances that have revolutionized healthcare over the past 50 years have simultaneously ramped up cybersecurity risks exponentially. The amount of personal information collected at healthcare facilities is mountainous, with every machine collecting bits of data on patient health at a constant rate. Many of the technologically complex devices used daily or even hourly are operating on outdated software, Hughes said, a combination that leaves medical centers riddled with vulnerabilities. For instance? A big MRI machine that still makes a nice MRI image but runs 'an old version of Windows that can't accept patches anymore,' he said. Exacerbating the problem are security measures that often involve a patchwork of systems inexpertly quilted together, said Gary Salman, CEO of Black Talon Security. Healthcare organizations often use security solutions from multiple vendors, which can lead to a lack of standardization or centralization, he said. While this puts them in a 'feel-good position,' the mishmash of products may not always cover the ground that it should while creating both unnecessary complexity and a glut of data. 'How do you triangulate all of this, especially in medium- and large-size healthcare organizations?' he asked. At a more strategic level, few shareholders and healthcare practitioners prioritize cybersecurity budgets, focusing instead on delivering patient care. Smaller regional and rural healthcare facilities are often living below the 'cybersecurity poverty line,' he said. 'Security is going to come second.' Plus, talented cybersecurity professionals have become increasingly sought after and expensive. And because of healthcare's limited budgets for technology, it doesn't always get the best cybersecurity talent, said Shankar Somasundaram, founder and CEO of Asimily. 'Healthcare may not always be able to pay the same amount,' said Somasundaram. 'Strong talent would go to another vertical, where they're getting paid more.' While formidable to healthcare executives, the tangled web of cybersecurity challenges merely sweetens the pot for hackers who, according to Salman, view healthcare data as a 'pot of gold.' The information is highly sensitive, incredibly personal and usually deeply detailed. Plus, organizations are collecting massive amounts at a constant rate, he said. 'Any size healthcare organization that has anywhere from thousands to millions of patient records – the risk is high,' Salman said. Selling such data to brokers through underground channels is also far more lucrative than pushing other types of data, Somasundaram added. When hackers sell credit card information, 'they have to collect 50 credit cards to make a single dollar,' he said. 'They can sell a healthcare record for tens of dollars each.' Because of the sensitivity of health data – and the fact that these records generally can't be wiped or changed the way a credit card or phone number can – healthcare organizations will often pay up when hit with ransomware attacks, said Salman. 'Imagine having a human being's complete demographic profile. That data could be sold to pharmaceutical companies,' said Shah. 'Thieves will go where the money is. And data is the new money.' Data loss is only the beginning of the problem, added Hughes. Cyberattacks can completely shut down healthcare facilities, forcing patients to seek care elsewhere, he said. In extreme cases, cyberattacks on healthcare organizations have been linked to fatalities, such as the 2019 attack on a hospital in Alabama that led to the death of a newborn. 'There is a state of mind that hackers are moral,' said Itay Glick, director of product at security firm OPSWAT. 'We need to understand that not all the attack groups share the same ethical standards that we think they should.' Despite the growing risks, healthcare organizations all too often simply react to attacks rather than working to prevent them, said Salman. Along with putting patients at risk, the strategy ends up costing organizations a far larger sum than they would have paid to establish adequate cyber defenses. While change often happens slowly, there are a variety of steps healthcare organizations can take to make themselves less attractive targets. Some are simpler, such as consistent security patching, strengthening credentials and providing cybersecurity education to staff, said Hughes. Vulnerability and penetration-testing can also help organizations identify their biggest pitfalls, said Glick. Backup Plan: Backing up data, meanwhile, is vital for healthcare organizations, Glick added. Since a major part of ransomware attacks is 'winning your data back,' having a backup stored can allow an organization to quickly recover, he said. The most important fix, however, is making cybersecurity a priority, especially among leadership and stakeholders. Change and awareness have to come from the top, said Somasundaram. Rather than viewing cybersecurity as an additional cost, corporate decision-makers should treat it as a vital necessity. 'In any industry which prides itself on patient outcomes and patient wellness and improvement, they see cybersecurity as a cost, not an outcome-based thing,' Somasundaram said. 'But if they could see the tie between cybersecurity and patient impact or lives, then I do believe they'd invest.' This post first appeared on The Daily Upside. To receive delivering razor sharp analysis and perspective on all things finance, economics, and markets, subscribe to our free The Daily Upside newsletter.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Key takeaways from 2025 Kansas legislative session
TOPEKA (KSNT) – The 2025 Kansas legislative session has come and gone with everything from bar brawls to heated house fights. Inside Kansas Politics co-hosts Rebekah Chung and Rob Hughes sat down with political analysts Bob Beatty and Bill Fiander to talk about new laws taking effect, property tax cuts and what items didn't get taken up this session. New hat in the race: Pat Proctor runs for Kansas SOS | You can watch Inside Kansas Politics at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings only on KSNT (check your local listings). To get the latest news on Inside Kansas Politics, check out our X account, or follow us on Facebook. If you have a story you think we should cover, email us at ikp@ For more Capitol Bureau news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Get the latest in weather alerts by downloading our Storm Track Weather App. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
TFA hosts annual ‘Forestry Day' at Texas Capitol
AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Forestry Association (TFA) hosted Forestry Day on Wednesday at the Texas Capitol, giving away hardwood seedlings to the public. 'TFA's presence in the Capitol city is essential in showcasing the wood and paper industry to members of the Texas House and Senate, as well as other statewide officials,' said Rob Hughes, executive director of Texas Forestry Association. 'The timber industry accounts for more than 172,000 jobs for Texans and manufactures more than 5,000 products we enjoy every day.' The Forestry Day event included the Association's Board of Directors meeting, and a lunch where key legislators and the organization spoke about issues facing the industry. According to a press release, the event began to raise public awareness of tree planting efforts, which take place each winter in the forested regions of the state. The TFA said each year, approximately 83 million seedlings are planted in Texas. 'This illustrates the desire of private landowners and the Texas Forest Sector to maintain sustainable forests for future generations,' Hughes said. The timber industry accounts for over 172,000 jobs in Texas, according to the TFA. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sen. Marshall on issues facing Kansas, Oakley town hall
TOPEKA (KSNT) – Capitol Bureau Reporter Rob Hughes sat down with Kansas Senator Roger Marshall to speak with him on a variety of topics including federal job cuts and the town hall meeting he cut short in Oakley. Marshall says 70% of Americans support what President Trump is doing to make government smaller, more efficient and to balance the budget. He said moving jobs to the private sector would help the economy grow faster. 'The economy will do much better moving people out of the government into more productive jobs in the real world so to speak… what goverment does is slow down GDP because of rules and regulations, and too many people,' Marshall said. K-State Ag. dean responds to USAID cuts Marshall said he has empathy for those who've lost their jobs but that government has gotten too big. The meeting at the Logan County Hospital in Oakley lasted around 40 minutes. A video shared with KSN by one of the people at the event showed that the event was contentious nearly from the start. Marshall's team later told KSN the event was sabotaged by Democrat operatives. 'The people of Oakley, of Logan county, didn't get to hear the message I was trying to bring, truly a message of hope,' Marshall said. Diecast show coming to the Capital City Marshall said that despite the challenge in Oakley, he did his best to answer questions from constituents. 'There comes a time when the questions are being repeated, and there also comes a time when the local people had had enough,' Marshall said. For more Capitol Bureau news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kansas bans kids from transitioning as controversial bill becomes law, activist speaks out
TOPEKA (KSNT) – A controversial bill originally vetoed by Governor Laura Kelly is now law. SB 63 passed 85-34 in the House and 31-9 in the Senate bans gender-affirming care for minors in Kansas. Inside Kansas Politics host Rob Hughes sat down with Adam Kellogg who shares his own experience transitioning as a child. And later in the show, political analyst Bob Beatty joined Rebekah Chung and Rob Hughes to break down the gender care override and a heated debate at the statehouse. Squatting could become a crime in Kansas with new bill | You can watch Inside Kansas Politics at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings only on KSNT (check your local listings). To get the latest news on Inside Kansas Politics, check out our X account, or follow us on Facebook. If you have a story you think we should cover, email us at ikp@ For more Capitol Bureau news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Get the latest in weather alerts by downloading our Storm Track Weather App. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
