WASHINGTON — Credit card fraud is everywhere, and there are steps to protecting yourself from a hack. But cyber breaches of digital health records is a different story, taking security to a whole new level.
The hacking of health care records is soaring. Last year, it shot up 11-thousand percent, NBC News reports.
After recent cyber-attacks, such as the security breach at Anthem, the health care industry knows it now needs to beef up its security and avoid vulnerability.
If thieves get your digital medical records, they end up with a treasure trove of your personal information. It is one-stop shopping of your sensitive data. They end up with dates of birth, addresses, social security numbers, credit card numbers and more, experts say.
Some hacking victims may not even be aware when they have been hacked. About one-in-three Americans have had their medical information compromised with the majority not knowing that it happened.
Thieves can use the information to pay for surgery, medical treatments, prescriptions, passports and even file bogus tax returns, NBC reports.
Security experts say your stolen records can end up for sale on the “dark web” which is a haven for hackers. Etay Maor, the executive security advisor for IBM tells NBC News, “You basically own a person. You have all the information. You can create a new account (health care), you can fake his whole identity.”
Tips on how to protect yourself:
- Don’t give your social security number out at doctors’ offices or hospitals, not even the last four digits.
- Don’t use the same email for banking and for shopping.
- Use good password practices.
- Use a pin number for your IRS tax returns.
