Just over a year ago, this blog took note of a governmental letter that powerfully underscored the dangers of cyberattacks in the healthcare industry. The letter, which then-Senator Barbara Boxer had sent to FBI Director James Comey, discussed the serious risks that hospitals and other institutional health care providers face from cyberattacks, ransomware, and a range of other malicious efforts to infiltrate their networks. Senator Boxer’s letter sought Director Comey’s input on how hospitals in particular could protect themselves from a growing number of instances in which hackers used malware to block access to crucial patient data, and the letter also sought information about the FBI’s response to such threats.
