Monthly HIPAA tip: Protect health data this holiday season
December 14, 2023 02:00 PM - The holidays are time to be cheerful and merry, but it is also a time to be reminded to take security precautions to safeguard your belongings – including your electronic devices and the data they contain. To protect your personal information and SSM Health data, keep these tips in mind while shopping, traveling, and visiting family and friends this holiday season.
• Do not use public Wi-Fi networks. Opening Wi-Fi networks at airports and other public locations can be an easy way for unauthorized users to intercept your information. Also, be aware of any Bluetooth connections that you establish, like that rental car you authorized to use your phone.
• Be cautious when charging your device. Avoid using a charging station that you do not control, such as in an airport or other public space. Connecting to an unknown charge station could allow software running on that station to gain access to your data.
• Don’t fall for phishing scams. Being in the shopping mode, you might receive a text message or email that appears legitimate. Be cautious. If the link or email seems suspicious, do not click on it!
• Turn off the location services on your personal cell phone or tablet. This increases the privacy of information about your activities, your location, and the places you travel.
• Avoid giving any app permission to access your device’s location data, other than those apps where the location is absolutely necessary (e.g., navigation and traffic apps). If you need to allow the device to track your location, you can usually set it to only access location data while you are using the app.
• Delete all stored health information before discarding or reusing the mobile device.
• Avoid downloading unnecessary or random apps, especially those that are “free.” In general, a free app is likely to include a lot of advertising and is therefore, more likely to share your personal information with advertisers than a paid app.
TIP: Apple devices have the ability to “ask app not to track” your activity for advertising purposes, click here for more information.
For a downloadable issue of this month’s Corporate Responsibility and HIPAA Privacy Reminder, click here.
For additional tips and reminders while online shopping that was developed by SSM Health Information Security, click here.
REMEMBER: The Corporate Responsibility Process tells us who to ASK. If you have questions or concerns about any process or activity being ethical, legal or in regulatory compliance or become aware of a situation that may have resulted in the breach of Protected Health Information, ASK any of the following leaders:
• Do not use public Wi-Fi networks. Opening Wi-Fi networks at airports and other public locations can be an easy way for unauthorized users to intercept your information. Also, be aware of any Bluetooth connections that you establish, like that rental car you authorized to use your phone.
• Be cautious when charging your device. Avoid using a charging station that you do not control, such as in an airport or other public space. Connecting to an unknown charge station could allow software running on that station to gain access to your data.
• Don’t fall for phishing scams. Being in the shopping mode, you might receive a text message or email that appears legitimate. Be cautious. If the link or email seems suspicious, do not click on it!
• Turn off the location services on your personal cell phone or tablet. This increases the privacy of information about your activities, your location, and the places you travel.
• Avoid giving any app permission to access your device’s location data, other than those apps where the location is absolutely necessary (e.g., navigation and traffic apps). If you need to allow the device to track your location, you can usually set it to only access location data while you are using the app.
• Delete all stored health information before discarding or reusing the mobile device.
• Avoid downloading unnecessary or random apps, especially those that are “free.” In general, a free app is likely to include a lot of advertising and is therefore, more likely to share your personal information with advertisers than a paid app.
TIP: Apple devices have the ability to “ask app not to track” your activity for advertising purposes, click here for more information.
For a downloadable issue of this month’s Corporate Responsibility and HIPAA Privacy Reminder, click here.
For additional tips and reminders while online shopping that was developed by SSM Health Information Security, click here.
REMEMBER: The Corporate Responsibility Process tells us who to ASK. If you have questions or concerns about any process or activity being ethical, legal or in regulatory compliance or become aware of a situation that may have resulted in the breach of Protected Health Information, ASK any of the following leaders:
- Your supervisor.
- A senior manager.
- Your HIPAA Leaders:
- Scott Didion, Senior Director, Privacy/Data Risk Management 314-989-2758.
- Teresa Arrowood , Privacy Director 573-681-3723.
- Mindy Phillips, System Vice President–Corporate Responsibility 314-989-2647.
