Health Information Compliance Alert
Does Bluetooth Endanger HIPAA Security On Mobile Devices?
Question: Our clinicians use smartphones and tablets. Some of these devices have Bluetooth capability. Is this a security risk?
Answer: Bluetooth is a short-range radio frequency communication. The best way to secure mobile devices with Bluetooth capabilities is to turn off or set the Bluetooth connection capabilities to “nondiscoverable,” according to the HHS Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC).
“When in discoverable mode, Bluetooth-enabled mobile devices are ‘visible’ to other nearby devices, which may alert a hacker to target them,” ONC explains. But when you turn off Bluetooth or put it into nondiscoverable mode, the Bluetooth devices become invisible to other devices.
Resource: For more on Bluetooth, see the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Guide to Bluetooth Security (SP 800-121 Rev. 1) at www.nist.gov/customcf/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=911133.
Health Information Compliance Alert
- Case Study:
Beware: HIPAA Compliance Won't Always Ensure Protection From Breaches
Take 5 steps to go beyond Security Rule standards to protect your data. The most [...] - HIPAA Lawsuits:
4 Ways Plaintiffs Get Around No-Private-Right-Of-Action Rule
How breach of contract claim may directly impact your NPP. Sure, the federal HIPAA regulation [...] - Reader Questions:
Does Bluetooth Endanger HIPAA Security On Mobile Devices?
Question: Our clinicians use smartphones and tablets. Some of these devices have Bluetooth capability. Is [...] - Reader Question:
What's The Difference Between 'Patches' & 'Updates?'
Question: Are “patches” and “updates” the same thing? If not, what’s the difference between the two? [...] - Security Rule:
Take 5 Steps To Manage Mobile Device Use In Your Organization
Weigh the risks versus the benefits before using mobile devices. As more and more healthcare [...] - Enforcement News:
Heads Up: Another Court Shoots Down Lawsuit Based On 'Actual Harm'
Plus: OCR’s ‘Wall of Shame’ gets a makeover and new web address. The U.S. District [...] - Mobile Device Safeguards:
Quick Tips For Tighter Security
Beware of file-sharing apps and public Wi-Fi connections. Mobile devices are certainly handy in the [...]
