Years ago, as a white hat hacker, I infiltrated a hospital’s corporate network just by connecting to the printer port in the waiting room. From there, nothing was off-limits: patient scans, financial data, phone systems.
90% of healthcare organizations reported at least one security breach in the past two years. And, the average organization faces over 1,200 new vulnerabilities every month.
Healthcare IT teams are already stretched thin, and manual patching leaves tons of opportunities for exploitation. Automation is inevitable; it’s the only way forward. Read the full article in Healthcare Business Today: https://lnkd.in/dx84mgUX
You Should Know: Essential Cybersecurity Practices for Healthcare Networks
1. Securing Network Printers & IoT Devices
Printers and IoT devices are common entry points for attackers. Use these commands to secure them:
Linux:
Check open ports on a printer/IP device nmap -p 9100,515,631 <printer_IP> Disable unnecessary printer services sudo systemctl stop cups sudo systemctl disable cups Block unauthorized access via iptables sudo iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 9100 -j DROP
Windows:
Disable printer sharing Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Printers" -Name "DisableWebPnPDownload" -Value 1 Check active print spooler services Get-Service -Name Spooler Stop-Service -Name Spooler -Force
2. Automating Vulnerability Patching
Manual patching is slow—automate with:
Linux (Using Ansible):
- name: Apply security updates hosts: all become: yes tasks: - name: Update all packages apt: update_cache: yes upgrade: dist
Windows (Using PowerShell):
Automate Windows updates Install-Module PSWindowsUpdate -Force Get-WindowsUpdate -Install -AcceptAll -AutoReboot
3. Detecting Unauthorized Access
Monitor network traffic for suspicious activity:
Linux (Using tcpdump):
sudo tcpdump -i eth0 port 9100 -w printer_traffic.pcap
Windows (Using Wireshark CLI):
& "C:\Program Files\Wireshark\tshark.exe" -i Ethernet0 -f "port 9100" -w C:\printer_traffic.pcap
What Undercode Say
Healthcare networks remain prime targets due to outdated systems and weak IoT security. Attackers exploit unsecured printers, unpatched software, and misconfigured services. Automation is no longer optional—tools like Ansible, PowerShell, and intrusion detection systems (IDS) must be deployed.
Key Takeaways:
- Printers & IoT devices must be firewalled.
- Automated patching reduces breach risks.
- Continuous monitoring detects intrusions early.
Expected Output:
A hardened healthcare network with minimized attack surfaces, automated updates, and real-time threat detection.
Prediction
As healthcare adopts more IoT devices, attacks will surge. AI-driven automation and Zero Trust frameworks will become standard defenses by 2026. Organizations failing to adapt will face relentless breaches.
References:
Reported By: Roicohen Years – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅
