Cybersecurity aspects of reproductive rights

Healthcare organizations are often top targets for cybercriminals who want to exploit sensitive information for top dollar, but for organizations like Planned Parenthood, cybercriminals are often politically or socially motivated.

In the latest episode of Health Stealth Radio, Jaclyn Sanchez, the Senior Director of Information Technology at Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida (PPSWCF) and host Frank Cutitta discuss what additional cybersecurity measures must be in place to protect patients from “hack-tivism.”

 “We’ve been doing [cutting-edge cybersecurity practices] for years. I think that PPSWCF is on the cutting edge when it comes to protecting the privacy and security for both our staff and patients. And we continue to build on that every day,” shares Sanchez.

For organizations like Planned Parenthood, threat actors prey upon patients seeking all kinds of care; contraception, STD care, LGBTQ+ and transgender care, and abortions. Not only do cybercriminals seek to identify and target individual patients, they also try to inject their digital path to medical help with misinformation. 

With the rise of digital healthcare technologies and a politically charged environment surrounding reproductive rights, Sanchez’s discussion illuminated the heightened need for robust cybersecurity measures. 

Listen to the full episode here: