The Pharma industry, with its valuable data, is like a treasure chest for cybercriminals. Phishing emails, designed to steal information, are a big threat. In 2024, as the industry uses new tech and follows changing rules, staying alert to these attacks is crucial. As cybercrime tactics become more sophisticated, costs are expected to skyrocket to $10.5 trillion by 2025.

Why do Hackers Target the Pharma Industry?

Several things make pharma companies attractive to cybercriminals:

• Secret research: Learning about new drugs can give them an edge over competitors.
• Patient information: This info can be used for identity theft or sold online.
• Money: Hackers can steal money or mess up financial systems.

New Phishing Tricks for a Changing World

As the industry uses new tech like artificial intelligence (AI) to find new drugs, hackers change their tricks. Here are some red flags to watch out for in 2024:

• Using hot topics: Phishing emails might talk about things like AI-powered drugs to seem real and pressure you to click bad links.
• Pretending to be trusted people: Emails might look like they come from partners, research groups, or even government agencies, making them seem believable.
• Super targeted attacks: These attacks use personal info about employees or specific research projects to seem more real and bypass security measures.

Pharma Industry Employees to Stay Safe Online

There are several ways to fight phishing:

• Be careful: Learn how to spot red flags and train your coworkers too. Don’t click on strange links or open attachments from unknown senders.
• Strong security measures: Use robust endpoint security solutions, email & web security solutions, MFA & Anti-virus software to protect IoT, IoMT devices from phishing attacks. Consider using advanced threat detection with AI to catch even more sophisticated attacks.
• Train often: Learn about the latest tricks and how to stay safe online. Talk openly and report suspicious emails to your IT security team.

More Ways to Phish

While email is the main way hackers use phishing, they’re also trying other things:

Smishing

Phishing texts that look like they come from real companies or healthcare providers, targeting your devices.

Vishing

Phishing phone calls where hackers pretend to be from a trusted organization to trick you into giving them information.

Wrap Up

Phishing tricks change all the time, so stay alert! Pharma’s cyber threat landscape demands robust security to safeguard sensitive data. Robust Cybersecurity is crucial to mitigate risks, protect data confidentiality & integrity.

Using robust security & offering cyber education, the Pharma industry can shield against Phishing attacks. Remember, taking a moment to think twice can save you a lot of trouble. Together, we can create a safer online environment for research, innovation, and patient well-being.

Secure Network Solutions (SNS) has been protecting customers against cyberattacks from different verticals for the last 23 years. We have the expertise and recommend the best security strategy to implement.

Please feel free to reach out to schedule a meeting or to discuss queries via [email protected]

Swathi
Author

Working IT professional and a Cyber Security enthusiast. Passionate to write about Cyber Security topics and Solutions. I share my insights as I study articles and trending topics in the field of Cyber Security.