Introduction
Nowadays, living in a digital era means your confidential information can be shared in a way it may have unpleasant consequences for you. Daily, cases are recorded of information breaches, leaked personal records, stolen data, etc. Even your health information may be put at risk of a steal by hackers, cybercriminals, identity thieves, etc. That’s why let’s sort out how you can secure your medical and patient health information from stealing and breaches.
Defense from Law
Your medical data may be secured by the main Federal laws such as The Privacy and Security Rules listed under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. HIPAA will protect & secure your medical health information when it is kept by health care providers, health plans, and organizations operating on their behalf.
Install a VPN
As a rule, hackers can hide behind harmless advertisements, conventional users in health online communities, email newsletters, etc. You should be aware that every time you go to the internet, medical identity thieves will make attempts to own your patient data. If you do not want to appear in a trap of cyber criminals, it is recommended to install VeePN on your devices.
With the assistance of a VPN for Turkey and other countries inhabitants, you can change your IP and enjoy private internet access. To get more useful information, you can browse around this web-site and find out what benefits you will get from using a VPN service. There is no doubt that with a VPN, hackers will not have a chance to access your personal medical data.
Create Strong Passwords
As a patient, you may probably store your health information within special apps on your devices. It is enough for hackers to take possession of your accounts to get access to your confidential information. To avoid such a situation, you should secure your accounts as much as possible.
For this, creating strong passwords will be the best solution. Make your password impossible to guess and hack by cybercriminals. Do not use easy or obvious passwords such as your birthday or family names. When you come up with a password, it is advisable to utilize a combination of letters, numbers, and special characters. Also, do not forget to update your password from time to time.
Be Careful on Social Media
Your social media is one of the first places hackers will look to search for your personal data. If the protection of medical information matters to you, there is a need to be cautious about what information you share on social media. Remember if medical identity thieves succeed in owning your personal data, they can make attempts to get medical treatment, surgery, or prescription drugs utilizing your health coverage and medical records.
Your task is to think twice before posting some information on social media. Share only that information that is considered right to be public. Remember that not every online forum will be private and secure. If you are going to post health information, for example, medical record number, DNA test results, Social Security number, etc. do not forget to utilize privacy settings to limit access. Keep in mind that any information posted on the Internet will be there forever.
Remember about Dangerous Downloads
Your mobile device is a small but important thing since it contains a large amount of your personal information. Once hackers get access to your smartphone, data theft is inevitable. To ensure the protection of medical information, there is a need to defend your mobile device.
It is advisable to be careful with what tools and instruments you intend to install on your device. Conduct research on mobile applications before downloading them. When you surf the internet, remember to go on trusted sites and sources only. Keep in mind to familiarize yourself with the privacy notice and terms of service of the application to find out it will treat your information. Do not forget to utilize encryption software on your mobile device.
Another tip is to install and activate remote disabling and/or remote device cleaning. With this feature, you will have the possibility to lock or delete data if your smartphone is lost or stolen.
Conclusion
Despite the development of digitalization, there are still a lot of risks to your confidential information. Hackers and identity thieves continue to look for new and effective methods to possess your patient data. There is no necessity to mention that this can lead you, health care providers, the government, etc. to irreparable aftermath.
That’s why your task is to take the protection of medical information seriously. Aside from laws, you can likewise defend your health information. It is not required to be an IT specialist to keep your data from stealing or breaching. If you are not sure how to start, you can familiarize yourself with the above-discussed recommendations on medical data defense. All of them are easy to follow and can strongly guarantee you to secure your health information.
Hi, I’m the Founder and Developer of Paramedics World, a blog truly devoted to Paramedics. I am a Medical Lab Tech, a Web Developer and Bibliophiliac. My greatest hobby is to teach and motivate other peoples to do whatever they wanna do in life.
Very insightful article about securing medical data