Healthcare institutions are increasingly being targeted by cybercriminals, with Covid-19 vaccine developer Dr Reddy hit by the latest malicious attack.

Cybercriminals are targeting medical facilities and research for one simple reason: at the point where we are today globally, medical research, especially that is directed at solving the coronavirus crisis, is the most valuable piece of intellectual property. If seized, it could grant a significant advantage to the party who holds it, and indeed catapult a whole economy.

Given this, whoever holds this research can claim a high price for it. Hostile actors who wish to influence or control global healthcare at this time of great need, to gain either monetary or geopolitical advantage, will be willing to pay this bounty.