“This pandemic is great for my business!” said very few people. Unless you’re a hacker. And then it’s likely that business is booming. We don’t think of cybercriminals as businesspeople. We tend to think they are individuals lurking about in hoodies in their basement. Quite the opposite – or so we have found through investigations […]
Author Archive | Mary Beth Carl
Smart Telehealth Practices during Covid-19
By Mary Beth Carl on September 22, 2020 in HIPAA IT Security, Latest News, Tech Tips, Weekly Security Reminder
COVID-19 has ushered in the mass acceptance of telehealth, with so much optimism and excitement around the technology. But like many new technologies, the initial use is rushed and not well thought out with many providers trying to figure out the right technology, best practices, and optimal patient experience. We have seen temporary waivers to […]
Million Dollar Laptop
By Mary Beth Carl on September 18, 2020 in HIPAA IT Security, Latest News, Tech Tips, Weekly Security Reminder
Was it made of gold? Encrusted in diamonds? No. Read on to learn how one laptop ended up being worth a massive one million dollars. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently closed an investigation into Lifespan Health System Affiliated Covered Entity for a stolen laptop incident reported back in 2017. That laptop contained…ready […]
3 ways AI will transform work for today’s students
Each industrial revolution has brought with it new ways of working – think of the impact computers and digital technology (the third industrial revolution) have had on how we work. But this fourth industrial revolution – also known as the “intelligence revolution,” because it is being driven by AI and data – feels unprecedented in terms of […]
Hacker Helper
Are You a Hacker Helper? Here you go, let me get the door for you. Are you looking for access to my company’s network? One moment, let me get those login credentials for you. Of course, this sounds ridiculous. But in reality, it is exactly what is happening. Cybercriminals use advanced social engineering to get […]
Fraudulent Postcards
By Mary Beth Carl on September 11, 2020 in HIPAA IT Security, Latest News, Tech Tips, Weekly Security Reminder
It’s always nice to get a postcard from friends or family who are away on vacation. But this week we learned of a new kind of postcard being sent out with not-so-well wishes. The Department of Health & Human Services’ (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) sent out a warning that fraudulent postcards are being […]
The world is a better place because of these 5 tech trends
The unknown can be scary, and as technology continues to rapidly evolve, it’s taking us into some uncharted territory. But it’s also improving the way we live, learn and impact our planet. From our health to our homes, here are five ways tech is shaping our world for the better. Impactful, personalized education In today’s […]
Why We Need to Go Beyond HIPAA
HIPAA – Then & Now The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, better known as HIPAA, has been around since 1996, with the intent to protect patients by properly handling their protected health information (PHI). With good intentions, HIPAA set forth to provide both security provisions and data privacy. The legislation was passed in the […]
Scare Tactics
It should hardly come as a surprise to anyone that cybercriminal activity has surged in 2020. By May of this year, the number of reported attacks had already come close to the total for 2019 according to the federal government. With the onset of COVID-19, there were a plethora of new opportunities for cybercriminals to take […]
Changing our Attitudes About Password Security
Live and Learn Most situations teach us lessons so that we don’t repeat damaging behaviors. For example, if you touch a hot stove, you know to pause and make sure it’s off before doing it again. If you run out of gas on a highway, on future drives, you’ll be on the lookout for a […]