FEATURE : CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE
Healthcare , 14.2 % of critical infrastructure attacks
Among the sectors of critical infrastructure , healthcare stands out as a primary target . The healthcare industry , which includes hospitals , clinics , and other medical facilities , accounted for 14.2 % of all attacks on critical infrastructure in 2023 . exposed millions of customer records . While the bank was quick to mitigate the breach , the reputational damage and financial loss were significant .
Telecom , transport , energy
The motivations for targeting healthcare organisations vary but often involve ransomware attacks , theft of confidential patient records , and disruptions to healthcare services .
Ransomware is a particularly devastating tool in the arsenal of cybercriminals targeting healthcare organisations . Attackers encrypt essential systems and files , demanding hefty sums to restore access . For healthcare providers , the stakes are incredibly high , lives can literally hang in the balance .
The telecommunications , transport , and energy sectors also fall within the crosshairs of cybercriminals , with attacks occurring regularly in 2023 . These sectors play crucial roles in ensuring that communication networks function , people and goods can move , and societies have access to power and fuel . A well-executed cyberattack against any one of these sectors can have far-reaching consequences .
John Mc Loughlin , CEO J2 Software
The disruption of care services , delays in medical treatment , and the potential exposure of personal healthcare information create a nightmare scenario for both patients and healthcare administrators .
Telecommunications companies have been hit by a combination of DDoS attacks , data breaches , and ransomware , often targeting critical communication infrastructure or sensitive customer data .
One recent high-profile example involved the Clop ransomware gang , which targeted hospitals and healthcare organisations by exploiting vulnerabilities in widely-used file transfer software . This attack paralysed hospital operations , forcing many to delay patient treatments or turn away non-emergency cases .
Financial institutions , 8.3 % of attacks on critical infrastructure
The financial sector also remains a lucrative target for cybercriminals , accounting for 8.3 % of attacks on critical infrastructure in 2023 . Financial institutions such as banks , insurance companies , and investment firms are natural targets because of the vast sums of money they manage , as well as the wealth of sensitive data they store .
The transport sector , particularly airlines and rail systems , have seen an increase in cyberattacks aiming to disrupt logistics and operations .
The energy sector , including utilities providing electricity and fuel , remains a particularly worrying target because of the potential for large-scale blackouts or fuel supply disruptions . In 2023 , several European energy companies reported being victims of cyberattacks designed to compromise operational systems and extort ransom payments .
National level institutions
After critical infrastructure , state institutions and political systems are the next most common targets
Cyberattacks in this sector can take multiple forms , including :
• Phishing attacks aimed at obtaining login credentials for online banking or investment platforms .
• Distributed Denial of Service , DDoS attacks that overwhelm a bank ’ s online services , making them inaccessible to customers .
• Data breaches that expose personally identifiable information , PII or financial details , leading to identity theft and other forms of fraud .
For instance , a well-coordinated attack on a large European bank this year resulted in a data breach that
IN 2023 , CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE WAS THE MOST FREQUENTLY
ATTACKED SECTOR , ACCORDING TO
EUROPEAN REPOSITORY OF CYBER INCIDENTS .
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