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Spyware Can Cripple HIPAA Compliance Efforts in the Healthcare Industry


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Spyware Can Cripple HIPAA Compliance Efforts in the Healthcare Industry
[author:J.P. Schwartz, Inc. Public time:May 30, 2007]

Patients’ private and protected health information can be compromised by the hackers and criminals who write spyware programs specifically to steal information. They create spyware for identity theft, to steal credit and banking information and to thwart the Federally-mandated HIPAA regulations designed to keep confidential medical information from becoming public.

While spyware can crash computers or cause productivity disruptions just like any other computer virus, the most effective spyware programs will remove other viruses, popups or other spyware so that the infected computer may actually run better, giving the user no indication of a security breach. The sophistication of these spyware programs poses an enormous risk because of the financial rewards for quietly stealing data and selling it to others for criminal use.

Fortunately, spyware can be prevented and prevention is by far the most secure and cost-effective method of dealing with spyware. Because there is not a single, 100% effective method for preventing spyware, the best practice is to employ multiple methods for prevention or “defense in depth” which focuses on user education to keep spyware from being downloaded disguised as other software like screen savers, the computer itself by installing and maintaining vigorous anti virus programs, and at the internet connection or firewall to prevent information from coming into or going out of the computer without specific permission to do so.

If you are interested in preventing your patients’ protected healthcare information from being stolen or sold, read a more in-depth article on spyware prevention practices at www.jpschwartz.com/downloads/spyware.html or give the spyware protection specialists at J.P. Schwartz, Inc. a call at (303) 482-1242.

Otherinfo:J.P. Schwartz, Inc. Custom Network Design Specialists PO Box 270429 Louisville, CO 80027 303-482-1242 info@jpschwartz.com

Printed From:http://www.free-press-release.com/news/200705/1180548838.html
Source:Free Press Release