A cyber security firm is warning of an increasing risk of cyber attacks targeting healthcare.

A CyberCX report shows it's in the top five most targeted sectors in Australia and New Zealand by cyber extortion groups.

It ranks third alongside IT and wholesale and retail services.

Chief Strategy Officer Alastair MacGibbon told Tim Dower it's the sensitive and important information that's attractive to cyber thefts.

He says criminal groups take the information and use it as leverage to demand money.

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