Millions of medical images leaked online to be viewed by anyone

Security experts have discovered that more than 45 million medical images were freely accessible after being stored on unprotected servers. 

In a new report, the analyst team at risk management provider CybelAngel found millions of sensitive images that could be viewed by anyone, with no security credentials required.

As part of a six-month-long investigation, CybelAngel scanned around 4.3 billion IP addresses, detecting more than 45 million unique medical images left exposed on over 2,140 unprotected servers across 67 countries including the US, UK, and Germany. Often the images were accompanied by other sensitive information contained within associated metadata, including names, addresses, and medical diagnoses.

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“Medical centers work with a vast, interconnected web of third-party providers and the cloud is an essential platform for sharing and storing data,” Todd Carroll, CybelAngel CISO, commented. 

“However, gaps in security, such as this, present a huge risk, both for the individuals whose data is compromised and the healthcare institutions that are governed by regulations to protect patients’ data. The health sector has faced unprecedented challenges this year, however, the security and privacy of their patients’ most personal records must be protected, to prevent highly confidential data falling into the wrong hands.”

Diagnosis: Data leak

The fact that no hacking tools were required in order to access the sensitive images is of particular concern. Although digital technologies have made it easier for healthcare organizations to collaborate, they have also introduced new security risks that have huge privacy implications for members of the public.

In order for healthcare firms to avoid embarrassing data leaks in the future, CybelAngel advises that they carry out real-world audits of all third-party partners, ensure proper network segmentation of medical equipment, and examine whether the coronavirus has introduced new vulnerabilities.

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