Characteristics of Short-Term Acute Care Hospitals That Experienced a Ransomware Attack From 2016 to 2021

Date
08/2023
Journal
Health Affairs Scholar
Description

Ransomware is a type of malicious software designed to block access to a computer system until a sum of money is paid. It is being increasingly used by cybercriminals across the U.S. in settings from school systems to hospitals. In this paper, researchers compare the characteristics (including rurality) of ransomware-attacked and non-attacked hospitals in the U.S. in order to understand which hospitals may be most vulnerable to cybercrime.

Center
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Authors
Claire McGlave, Sayeh Nikpay, Carrie Henning-Smith, Katie Rydberg, Hannah Neprash