DataBreaches.Net

Menu
  • About
  • Breach Notification Laws
  • Privacy Policy
  • Transparency Report
Menu

Lahey Clinic breach: how seriously are some entities taking privacy and security?

Posted on September 16, 2012 by Dissent

Speaking of the risk of mobile devices…

Lahey Clinic reports that on July 1, a physician lost a Blackberry (or it was stolen) at an airport in France. On it were patients’ names, dates of birth, Lahey medical record numbers, diagnosis, and procedure names/test results.

The clinic did a remote wipe of all of the data on July 6, but for five days, those data could have been accessed by anyone because not only was the Blackberry not encrypted, but it was not even password protected.

In its August 24th letter to those affected, the clinic states, “We have taken corrective action steps to prevent a situation like this from happening again by encrypting all Blackberries and adding password protection to all devices.”

To which I respond: Why the heck wasn’t this done years ago? Seriously, given the constant reminders about data security and the frequent media stories about the number of lost devices, why didn’t the clinic address this already?  Should entities even be allowed to tell patients that they “take the privacy and security of your data very seriously” when there was no encryption and not even a password?  And why were the data traveling to France? Were the data really needed there or was this all a needless risk? Their letter doesn’t address whether they think it was appropriate for the physician to take the patient data out of the country.

Related posts:

  • Exclusive: Has France thrown a French national to U.S. prosecutorial wolves? Pourquoi?
Category: Health Data

Post navigation

← Insider breach at Quest Diagnostics results in notification to patients
Hack of Red Boat Advisor Resources server containing brokerage account applications →

Now more than ever

"Stand with Ukraine:" above raised hands. The illustration is in blue and yellow, the colors of Ukraine's flag.

Search

Browse by Categories

Recent Posts

  • Avantic Medical Lab hacked; patient data leaked by Everest Group
  • Integrated Oncology Network victim of phishing attack; multiple locations affected (2)
  • HHS’ Office for Civil Rights Settles HIPAA Privacy and Security Rule Investigation with Deer Oaks Behavioral Health for $225k and a Corrective Action Plan
  • HB1127 Explained: North Dakota’s New InfoSec Requirements for Financial Corporations
  • Credit reports among personal data of 190,000 breached, put for sale on Dark Web; IT vendor fined
  • Five youths arrested on suspicion of phishing
  • Russia Jailed Hacker Who Worked for Ukrainian Intelligence to Launch Cyberattacks on Critical Infrastructure
  • Kentfield Hospital victim of cyberattack by World Leaks, patient data involved
  • India’s Max Financial says hacker accessed customer data from its insurance unit
  • Brazil’s central bank service provider hacked, $140M stolen

No, You Can’t Buy a Post or an Interview

This site does not accept sponsored posts or link-back arrangements. Inquiries about either are ignored.

And despite what some trolls may try to claim: DataBreaches has never accepted even one dime to interview or report on anyone. Nor will DataBreaches ever pay anyone for data or to interview them.

Want to Get Our RSS Feed?

Grab it here:

https://databreaches.net/feed/

RSS Recent Posts on PogoWasRight.org

  • On July 7, Gemini AI will access your WhatsApp and more. Learn how to disable it on Android.
  • German court awards Facebook user €5,000 for data protection violations
  • Record-Breaking $1.55M CCPA Settlement Against Health Information Website Publisher
  • Ninth Circuit Reviews Website Tracking Class Actions and the Reach of California’s Privacy Law
  • US healthcare offshoring: Navigating patient data privacy laws and regulations
  • Data breach reveals Catwatchful ‘stalkerware’ is spying on thousands of phones
  • Google Trackers: What You Can Actually Escape And What You Can’t

Have a News Tip?

Email: Tips[at]DataBreaches.net

Signal: +1 516-776-7756

Contact Me

Email: info[at]databreaches.net

Mastodon: Infosec.Exchange/@PogoWasRight

Signal: +1 516-776-7756

DMCA Concern: dmca[at]databreaches.net
© 2009 – 2025 DataBreaches.net and DataBreaches LLC. All rights reserved.