Toward A Cure for Healthcare Ransomware: Innovation and Impact

Healthcare ransomware attacks persist because hospitals pay ransoms to protect patient safety, creating lucrative targets. A greater threat emerges: nation-state actors targeting critical infrastructure in hybrid conflicts. Traditional cybersecurity solutions cannot prevent attacks from motivated adversaries—successful breaches are inevitable. How do we solve this problem?

This session explores UC San Diego Center for Healthcare Cybersecurity research envisioning a future where ransomware attacks become manageable disruptions, not catastrophes. By integrating innovative technologies—early warning systems and rapid response platforms—we can protect patients, reduce costs, and disrupt incentive structures empowering malicious actors while defending healthcare infrastructure.