Ransomware hackers stealing medical records as online attacks surge, spy agency’s annual report reveals

Cyber criminals are increasingly targeting the health sector with authorities warning patient safety is being put in danger as ransomware attacks involving stolen medical records double in the past year.

Australia ’s cyber spy agency has released its annual threat report which also urges businesses and network owners to bolster their defences including adopting “post-quantum cryptography” to beat hackers using powerful futuristic computers.

According to the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) in the past year it received almost 85,000 cybercrime reports, or one every six minutes, with the average cost to compromised businesses increasing significantly.

It suggests post-quantum cryptography defences must be in place across the country by 2030 as criminal gangs and state actors start us