Signal is an Open Source Intelligence tool which is used across a number of sectors to help executive and security teams form efficient and effective responses to emerging and evolving threats to assets and people - both staff and customers.
Some of the ways this manifests is in things like quickly identifying data breaches, allowing users to better protect their customers from threats like credential stuffing. Or through social media monitoring to identify sentiment which could affect a businesses reputation or evolve into a physical threat against an executive.
In short, Signal provides relevant, actionable, and real-time information and tools to monitor multiple online data sources with a simple, easy-to-use interface. We empower security professionals around the world to quickly identify emerging threats, receive real-time alerts, and monitor developing situations in order to save time and resources, protect staff and customers, and manage operational risk.
Why use Signal in the Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Sector
Management and security professionals in the healthcare industry have particular needs when it comes to protecting assets, staff, and patients. Some common threats include fake drugs for sale online, sensitive data leaks, and illegal impersonation of healthcare professionals.
To prevent the afore mentioned risks and others from evolving into tangible threats healthcare professionals in charge of security need to remain vigilant. Having Signal OSINT software in their toolbox allows them to monitor the dark web for leaked data, scan social media for negative sentiment and monitor other sources to detect threats early.
Private medical data leaks
One of the most worrying things may healthcare institutes have to worry about is hackers targeting sensitive patient data. It is estimated that 24% of dark web vendors offer access to the healthcare vertical market. Over recent years there a has been a resurgence in ransomware and phishing attacks targeting hospitals, medical practices, and nursing homes.
The reason these institutes are so attacked is that digital medical data sets are incredibly rich PPI sources. These records are worth a lot on the black markets of the dark web. Having someones personal medical history allows fraudulent claims and identity theft. It’s important to remember that hackers are trying to generate a positive cash flow from their attacks.
It’s not just medical records then that hackers can get out of a medical institutes system. Often there are non-sensitive login pairs as well as payment and credit card details. Which makes this a gold mine for hackers.
Fake drugs for sale online pharmaceuticals online
The WHO estimates that 50% of the drugs for sale on the internet are fake. Due to the high price of some medications there is ample opportunity for false online vendors to take advantage of the customers need. Often the fake drugs are portrayed as the real thing, but at a massively discounted rate.
Pharmaceutical IT security needs to locate and identify these dangerous sites so that they can be shut down in an effort to protect consumers from potentially harmful fake drugs. It’s also important to identify fake online vendors who might be impersonating a companies brands. This could cause both dangers to customers, but also creates a reputational risk for pharmaceutical companies.
Stopping the Spread of Misinformation
In light of the rapid spread of information following the pandemic outbreak of COVID-19, it has never been more clear that organisations need reliable accurate sources of information. Examples of unqualified individuals selling miracle cures, or spreading misinformation for some other reason can quickly spread through the internet. Trustworthy healthcare institutes and sources need to identify and combat this misinformation fast.
How Signal is currently being used to help healthcare professionals
An individual impersonating a doctor was discovered online
The individual was selling fake drugs to customers using their persona as a healthcare professional to give out medical advice and push the sales of fake drugs. By using Signal this threat was discovered and action is taken to prevent further damages.
fake prescription drugs found online
Several examples have been discovered by Signal customers of their drugs online from unofficial vendors. Upon closer inspection, these drugs were not theirs but fake replicas. Signal was used to closely monitor dark web forums where these drugs were for sale as well as fake sites on the surface web where they were more openly available to customers. Using customised searches the fake prescription drugs were quickly located and the threat to customers and the companies reputations removed.
Discovered sensitive leaked patient information.
After a system hack, a healthcare institute using Signal was able to identify some of their patient’s records for sale on the dark web. Whilst the data can’t be retrieved, with this knowledge preventative measure can be and were put in place to minimise the risk of these data sets being fraudulently used.
Threats against staff are uncovered from dissatisfied patients
By using Signal’s sentiment analysis tool, Spotlight, users can determine the emotions behind posts to determine whether or not posts deserve further analysis or attention. This helps users cut through the noise.
Dangerous misinformation caught being spread about COVID-19
Using Signal a dangerous piece of misinformation about COVID-19 was identified. It was particularly harmful as it was being portrayed as an internal hospital memo however, upon inspection the information whilst believable was entirely incorrect. By identifying the misinformation that was being spread healthcare professionals were able to counter with verified and accurate information.
Summary
Signal is an open source intelligence platform that enables efficient monitoring of content in blogs and posts on the surface, deep, and dark web. This allows users to detect and identify potential threats to their business, customers, and assets and then establish effective preventative measures to protect against those threats.