Cyber Aid: A remedy for online attacks

MARCH 6, 2025: 

A new campaign to help health service providers shore up their online security has been launched in the wake of high-profile cyber attacks on health giants, including Genea and MediSecure.

COSBOA’s Cyber Wardens says small providers such as GP clinics, podiatrists and massage therapists are just as vulnerable to cyber crime, as online fraudsters increasingly target the industry.

The free Australian government-funded program is warning the rise in attacks highlights the need for every healthcare professional to undertake cyber security training as it launches Cyber Aid, a new offering tailored to small healthcare businesses.

In the latest in a string of high-profile incidents, sensitive patient information was posted on the dark web after Australian IVF provider Genea was hacked on February 14. The attack was allegedly orchestrated by a ransomware group, and a raft of data, including names, addresses, phone numbers, Medicare records and medications, was accessed.

COSBOA CEO Luke Achterstraat said Cyber Aid has been launched at a critical time for the industry, providing free training through the Cyber Wardens program to help healthcare professionals defend against cyber threats.

“The health industry is a lucrative target for cyber criminals and the recent Genea attack is a timely reminder for every health service provider across Australia to bolster their cyber defences,” he said.

“Small businesses, including medical practices, lose an average of $49,600 per attack—a cost many simply cannot afford. It’s a burning issue for patients too, with research showing 82 per cent of Australians fear unauthorised access to their health records.

“Cyber security is no longer just an IT issue—it’s a patient safety issue. With 95 per cent of cyber attacks caused by human error, every healthcare professional has a role in protecting sensitive information and ensuring compliance with privacy regulations.”

Worryingly, the healthcare sector is the number one target for data breaches, making up 19 per cent of all notifiable incidents in the first half of 2024, figures from the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner show.