The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued its interim final rule concerning notification of breaches of health information by HIPAA-covered entities. The rule was published in the Federal Register yesterday, and will become effective 30 days from then. The Federal Trade Commission recently issued a companion breach notification rule that covers vendors…
Lawsuit tries to get at hackers through the banks
A lawsuit filed on Wednesday against some of the most shadowy Internet criminals — gangs based in Eastern Europe that electronically break into business computers, steal banking passwords and transfer themselves money — is being used to pry information from a group that is nearly as reclusive as the hackers: banks whose computers have been…
Fears about confidentiality put off doctors from accessing mental health services
In a pretty convincing demonstration that we need better privacy and security protection for sensitive health information, the Royal College of Physicians recently issued this press release on their site: A majority of doctors would avoid seeking professional advice for mental health issues in an outpatient setting, according to a new survey published by the…
Law requiring ultrasounds for abortions is struck down
An Oklahoma judge decided Tuesday that doctors do not need to perform ultrasounds and offer women detailed information about the tests before performing abortions, striking down the strictest such law in the country. Oklahoma County District Judge Vicki L. Robertson ruled that the 2008 law, which included other abortion-related provisions, violated a state constitutional provision…
Md. police trying to find ID theft victims
Police said they were trying to identify at least 100 victims of identity theft whose private information was found in a hotel room in Elkridge, Md. Four suspects from Florida face charges for a theft scheme that stretches across at least four states, the Howard County, Md., police said Wednesday in a news release. Police…
Hacking kingpin negotiating plea deal with feds
The former government informant facing three separate indictments for allegedly being behind the largest data breaches in U.S. history is being offered a plea deal, U.S. and defense attorneys confirmed today. The plea negotiations with Albert Gonzalez, 28, of Miami, Fla., who was indicted Monday for the third time in connection with major data breaches,…