SAINT LOUIS, MO (KMOX) - Cyber security experts have issued repeated warnings about the vulnerability of power grids and water treatment plants. Now a doctor who specializes in bio-technology says he's very concerned our personal medical information will come under attack, as the situation intensifies in Ukraine.
43 million medical records were compromised last year. Dr. Anthony Harris says that's an all time high. Harris completed fellowship training in Biodesign and Innovation at the University of Missouri and now leads H-Fit Health, a tech driven occupational therapy firm.
Harris tells KMOX News, there are multiple ways hackers can gain access to medical networks. He points out, our increasing use of technology in medicine can open the door even wider.
"People are accessing their health records from their phones and interacting with their hospital systems and those interactions can be points of vulnerability," Harris says.
Harris says cyber attacks on medical information can disrupt services -- even surgeries or other important procedures -- if records are unavailable.
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In another scenario, threat actors could use medical information against someone who works in government or corporate America.
"It probably wouldn't happen at the highest level of government, but it could happen, and imagine if its happening at a level in corporate America in which it disrupts the ability of our supply chain to function properly," Harris says.
Harris says it's time for medical organizations to consider where data is stored, how it's connected to the administrative network, and what devices are connected to their networks and work to secure those systems.
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