HIPAA Archives

DynA-Crypt Ransomware is worse than the others!

Suze Shaffer April 2, 2017February 1, 2024

By Aris Medical Solutions

Karsten Hahn who is a GData malware analyst discovered this ransomware called DynA-Crypt. Larry Abrams at Bleepingcomputer alerted the world about this new type of ransomware. Thanks to them, we know about this and must be diligent in protecting our information.

This new strain is even more dangerous and destructive than the others. This malware not only encrypts your data, but also takes screenshots of your active desktop, login commands that you type, and even records system sounds from your computer. It will even steal information from Skype and Chrome. While this vicious attack is encrypting your computer, stealing your information, it is also deleting your files.

This would be considered a major HIPAA data breach and not only will you lose everything, you will have to report this to your State and Federal authorities under the Breach Notification Laws.

Make sure your anti-virus and anti-malware is up to date and verify it is an enterprise version. Although this is not specifically stated under HIPAA, it is considered reasonable and appropriate. If you never have this happen to you, the HIPAA Police is not going to penalize you. However, if this does affect your practice or organization and you do not have reasonable and appropriate safeguards in place, you will be fined and penalized.

Everyone in your organization should be made aware of this new attack and remind them NOT open any file attachments OR click on any links in ANY email unless you are absolutely sure it is safe. Best practices is to open your browser and go directly to the company’s website to check on anything you receive in an email. Also be VERY careful trusting emails from friends. If YOUR email is hacked, they will spoof a name in your contact list and send an email back to YOU. They hope that since you know this person you will open the email. If you receive an email that asks you to click on a link or open a file, look carefully at the FULL email address, more than likely is NOT your friends email. Keep in mind, it still could come from their actual email address. Always call or text them and ask if they sent this to you.

For more information on how Aris Medical Solutions can help your organization with HIPAA Compliance and Protecting Patient Data call 877.659.2467 or click here to contact us.

“Protecting Organizations through Partnership, Education, and Support”

Default passwords- why you need to change them!

Suze Shaffer March 18, 2017February 1, 2024

By Aris Medical Solutions

Home security cameras and baby monitors are making the news again about being hacked. This is nothing new, we have been telling people for years to change the default passwords on ALL your technology devices. Anyone can Google your device or IP address and they can get your default password. HIPAA requires that you have reasonable and appropriate safeguards in place to protect patient data. This includes updating and changing technology as needed.

For example all I had to type in Google was “Default password for Netgear”, and this is what I found:

For most NETGEAR devices (except ReadyNAS/ReadyDATA products and Fully Managed Switches), the default username and password are: Username (all models) = admin. Password (current models) = password. Password (very old models) = 1234. Aug 9, 2015

If you use any security cameras, Google “IP Camera Default Usernames Password and IP Addresses”. I found a website that lists ALL CAMERAS!

I highly recommend that you walk around your home and office and make a list of all your technology devices and Google them. If you can find a default password on the internet; so can everyone else. If you do not know how to change the password, we suggest hiring someone to do this for you. Otherwise you could simply remove the password all together!

For more information on how Aris Medical Solutions can help your organization with HIPAA Compliance and Protecting Patient Data call 877.659.2467 or click here to contact us.

“Protecting Organizations through Partnership, Education, and Support”

It’s not just HIPAA, think about the FTC!

Suze Shaffer November 15, 2016February 1, 2024

By Aris Medical Solutions

All of you know and follow the HIPAA regulations, but you also need to make sure you follow the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines as well. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released an article explaining about the requirements.
HIPAA involves the Privacy of an individual and FTC Act prohibits companies from engaging in deceptive or unfair acts or practices in or affecting commerce. Keep in mind if you use a third party, you also need a business associate agreement in place. Anytime you share patient information outside of treatment, payment, or healthcare operations (TPO), you must have a written authorization from the patient. Organizations can not mislead patients about what is happening with their health information. The manner in which you share their information must be clear, concise, and written in plain language so they understand.

To read the entire article: https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/special-topics/HIPAA-ftc-act

For more information on how Aris Medical Solutions can help your organization with HIPAA Compliance call 877.659.2467 or click here to contact us.

“Protecting Organizations through Partnership, Education, and Support”

Do you have your ALL of your Business Associate Agreements in place?

Suze Shaffer May 14, 2016February 1, 2024

By Aris Medical Solutions

The Omnibus Rule that became effective March 26, 2013 was a game changer in many ways. One area was requiring Covered Entities to ensure that Business Associate Agreements (BAA) were in place with all of their business partners by September 23, 2013. If a Covered Entity had agreements already in place, Covered Entities had until September 22, 2014 to replace them with new ones that had all of the required elements of the new Omnibus Rule.

Did you know that if a Covered Entity (Medical Practice) releases Protected Health Information (PHI) to person or an entity and the practice does not have a signed BAA in place, the Covered Entity can be fined? In the eyes of HIPAA, you have disclosed PHI to an unauthorized user. Yes, this is TRUE!

Did you know that if a medical practice’s software vendor has a data breach and you as the Covered Entity do not have a BA agreement in place you could be fined as well? I know what you are thinking… it’s THEIR responsibility, not yours. True, but it is YOUR responsibility to have an agreement in place. Have you reviewed your BA agreements to ensure the documents have all of the required elements and it protects YOU the Covered Entity? These are very important documents and since it is the responsibility of the medical practice to protect patient data, the practice dictates when this information can be shared. The practice also has the responsibility to have assurances that the entity understands how to protect the data before it is released.

The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) recently imposed a $750K fine for such an offense. A Raleigh Orthopedic practice released 17,300 x-rays films to a Business Associate (BA) that promised to transfer the images in exchange for the silver in films. Unfortunately the practice forgot to have the entity sign a Business Associate Agreement.

Make sure you do not make the same mistake…

Contact Aris Medical Solutions at 877.659.2467 or click here to find out how we can protect your organization.

“Protecting Organizations through Partnership, Education, and Support”

Small Medical Practices are Huge Targets!

Suze Shaffer April 6, 2016February 1, 2024

By Aris Medical Solutions

Many organizations have the attitude that they are too small to be a target for a data breach. Just because you don’t hear about small and medium sized practices being targeted doesn’t mean it is not happening.

Most medical practices are busy treating patients and are not aware of the severity behind this type of threat. Since small and even medium sized practices do not have the infrastructure in place to protect their data, they are a larger target than think. Data breaches can go undetected for months, if not years since they are not watching for it. For instance, if a Pediatric Practice is hacked, those social security numbers can be used for years before it will be discovered.

Many business associates are also targeted because they have access to medical records in different manner. Again, small and midsized organizations that do not have appropriate safeguards in place can wreak havoc in a medical environment. So what can you do?

First of all, conduct a Security Risk Analysis to understand what are your vulnerabilities. This is critical in order to mitigate risks.
Next, have a network security audit performed. Even if you access your data in the cloud and not through an onsite server, you can still be hacked.
Invest in monitoring your network. Know who is accessing your data.
TRAINING IS A MUST! Your employees can be your best asset or your largest liability.

Not only is this required under HIPAA, it is considered best practice in protecting patient data.

Contact Aris Medical Solutions at 877.659.2467 or click here to find out how we can protect your organization.

“Protecting Organizations through Partnership, Education, and Support”