Ontario’s privacy commissioner is ordering Durham Region’s health officer to ensure medical data is encrypted on portable devices. The order follows an incident in December when the health data of more than 83,000 people who received H1N1 flu shots went missing. A nurse was taking a USB key containing the records to her car in…
Four women held in San Jose identity-theft scheme, DA’s office says
Lisa Fernandez reports: A team of South Bay authorities said they arrested four women suspected of stealing the identities of at least 100 victims in a ring headquartered at a Days Inn in San Jose. Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Amy Cornell said Wednesday that two of the women arrested Monday at the…
PA: Man gets 8 to 16 years for drugs, ID theft
John McManus, 37, of 103 Persimmon Drive, Delaware Township pled guilty to various drug and identity theft charges on January 11 at the Pike County Courthouse in Milford. He was sentenced by President Judge Joseph Kameen to 8 to 16 years in state prison. A jury had already been selected to try McManus on his…
NY: Perinton Mail Theft Leads to Identity Theft
Jane Flasch reports: Thieves used information stolen from a Post Office to create and cash forged checks to the tune of $75,000. Investigators say thieves stole letters mailed in late November in the outdoor blue box at the Perinton Square Post Office. Officials now believe thieves struck just once, obtaining enough mail to target 20…
AU: Doctors call for patient privacy protection
A group representing general practitioners has called on the Federal Government to ensure patient confidentiality is maintained when privacy laws are reformed this year. The Government has proposed streamlining the Privacy Act into a national set of principles across the public and private sectors. The move coincides with a widespread increase in the use of…
Health Net statement in response to CT lawsuit
I received the following statement from Health Net in response to my request for a statement: Health Net of Connecticut Statement – January 13, 2010 Protecting the privacy of our members is extremely important to us. Health Net’s company policy states that data must be encrypted and secured. Health Net has just received a copy…