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Travelers' check: How safe is your laptop? It used to be that travelers had to only worry about their cameras being stolen. Now they have to protect their laptop computers from thieves. If you, your partners or your staff use laptops, PDAs or other mobile devices to stay connected, be aware of the pitfalls associated with the convenience of round-the-clock accessibility. Thieves can sell laptops to pawnshops, fences or even on street corners. When they do, all the information in the computer goes with it. The street value of that information may, in fact, be a lot more valuable than the laptop itself. According to software maker Symantec, data stored in a laptop's e-mail alone can exceed $800,000, or 500 times the amount of the laptop's hardware. Know your stuff Even if you aren't aware of any patient data stored on your laptop, some may be lurking somewhere on the hard drive. If you have e-mails concerning patients, an accounts receivable report or any other seemingly innocuous information, you may have unwittingly collected personal data that is protected under HIPAA. And even if you haven't, a thief can use your computer to access your practice's servers and create havoc that way. There are several ways to protect your portable communications devices, whether traveling or not. One is to never leave them unattended. In addition, purchase a security device, such as cables to secure the computer to a desk, or add motion-detecting alarms to deter thieves from making off with your laptop. In hotels, lock up your communications devices in a safe. Also consider installing software programs to be a frontline defense in case your laptop is ever stolen. Some track Internet usage and report it to authorities; others remotely recover and destroy data on a stolen computer ant1 then permanently disable it. You can even have global positioning system (GPS) software installed on your laptop, ~which may increase your chances of getting back a stolen unit.Even more important than protecting the device, though, is protecting the information it contains. The best to protect the information is to encrypt it.
Even more important than protecting the device, though, is protecting the information it contains. The best way to protect the information is to encrypt it. In other words, make the data unreadable by using a special code. At the very least, back up your data. It's nice to be able to carry your entire practice's business information with you, but if the device is stolen or seriously damaged, you can't replace that important data. Access denied More advanced measures are required to protect data from unauthorized access. Passwords are a first link of defense, and you should use them. But be aware that pass- words aren't inviolable. Biometric authentication is starting to catch on as another way to protect information. These systems scan and store the user's unique body characteristics in a database. Perhaps the safest alternative when you travel is to simply leave your computer tucked away in a safe place at home. You can do that if you have your home computer run a remote access program that allows you to log on from any Web-enabled computer. The remote access programs are inexpensive, and you can work as if you were at home without carrying a laptop. Use your head Technology continues to advance, and security measures are advancing right along with it. As telecommuting, Internet information-sharing and business travel continue to increase, it's imperative that you use common sense to protect your computer and the data it contains.
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