{"id":119371,"date":"2021-03-29T14:59:39","date_gmt":"2021-03-29T21:59:39","guid":{"rendered":"\/blogs\/?p=119371"},"modified":"2025-05-22T22:20:26","modified_gmt":"2025-05-23T05:20:26","slug":"check-up-on-your-virtual-safety-tips-for-telehealth-protection","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/mobile-security\/check-up-on-your-virtual-safety-tips-for-telehealth-protection\/","title":{"rendered":"Check up on Your Virtual Safety: Tips for Telehealth Protection"},"content":{"rendered":"

Check up on Your Virtual Safety: Tips for Telehealth Protection<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In a poll conducted by the Canadian Medical Association<\/a>, nearly half of Canadians have used telehealth services since the start of the pandemic. Additionally, in a recent McAfee study<\/a>, we found that 21% of Canadians have used the internet for a doctor visit in 2020, and 28% said that such online visits will become a part of their routine moving forward Telehealth, or virtual care. This includes clinical services delivered remotely via electronic communications, such as videoconferencing, mobile apps and remote patient monitoring technology. Many of us have readily accepted these medical services out of necessity, as COVID have limited in-person hospital visits.<\/p>\n

Hackers are taking advantage of the rise in virtual health services and exploiting their vulnerabilities to steal sensitive medical records. These vulnerabilities are the result of bigger issues stemming from obscure patient health information regulations and health care system budgetary constraints.<\/p>\n

Understanding the risks associated with telehealth is the first step to securing your online safety during your virtual doctor\u2019s visits.<\/p>\n

Why Cybercriminals Target Health Care<\/strong><\/h2>\n

At the onset of the pandemic, the number of reported Canadian cyberattacks jumped 50% from Q4 2019 to Q1 2020. Health care is one of the most targeted industries for cyberattacks<\/a>. One attack even compromised the organization that manages Ontario\u2019s medical records<\/a>. Health care is such a highly targeted industry because it holds a wealth of information that fetches a high price on the dark web. Experts say medical records are more valuable than credit card details due to the amount of vital information stored in them, such as birth dates and patient ID numbers. Hackers can then hold this information for ransom<\/a> or use it to steal your identity. Further, cybercriminals see health care institutions as easy targets. Canadian health care IT departments have insufficient budgets<\/a> and are ill-prepared to handle the rising threats.<\/p>\n

Canada also does not have federal guidelines governing virtual care and patient health information. Rather, health care providers and virtual care platforms are limited to the broad guidelines outlined by the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). As these are not digital security specific purpose defined guidelines and requirements, it makes it more difficult for health care providers and telehealth companies to protect patient data.<\/p>\n

Telehealth Risks <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Telehealth makes care accessible to everyone; unfortunately, if you\u2019re not careful, telehealth also opens the door for hackers. Hackers can infiltrate the technology used for online doctor\u2019s appointments, because video conferencing technologies have several security flaws. From there, hackers can disrupt calls, eavesdrop and steal your private health information.<\/p>\n

The advent of telehealth services has also prompted an increase in emails. Since patients may be expecting emails from their doctor, they may let their guard down and fall victim to phishers posing as a health care organization.<\/p>\n

Take Control of Your Health Privacy<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Prepare for your next virtual doctor\u2019s appointment with these best practices to secure your virtual safety.<\/p>\n

Ask the right questions<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Before heading into your next telehealth appointment, ask your health care provider the right questions to online understand what risks you may face. Ascertaining this information will help you understand what actions you need to take to mitigate the risk on your end, like staying alert for eavesdroppers or finding alternative ways to confirm personal information. Here are some questions you can ask:<\/p>\n