The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Health Sector Cybersecurity Coordination Center (HC3) released an analyst note on credential harvesting, highlighting the growing threat of cyberattackers targeting various sectors, including the health industry. Credential harvesting is a technique in which attackers collect sensitive login data, such as usernames and passwords, to gain unauthorized access to systems or accounts. This can result in data theft, fraud, disruption of critical systems, or the initiation of more severe cyberattacks. Common methods used by attackers include phishing, keylogging, man-in-the-middle attacks, credential stuffing, and social engineering.
To mitigate the risks associated with credential harvesting, HC3 outlines several defense strategies. Organizations should educate employees on the importance of strong passwords, avoiding password reuse, and recognizing phishing or social engineering attacks. Implementing multi-factor authentication provides an additional layer of security by requiring multiple forms of verification. Additionally, deploying email filters and endpoint security solutions can help block phishing attempts and malware, while continuous system monitoring can help detect credential harvesting attacks in real-time. Regularly updating software through vulnerability and patch management is also crucial to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities. Lastly, organizations should have a comprehensive incident response plan in place to quickly address any credential harvesting incidents and minimize their impact. For more information and detailed recommendations, refer to HHS HC3’s Credential Harvesting Analyst Note.