On April 11, 2023 – one month in advance of the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) on May 11, 2023 – the federal Office for Civil Rights (OCR) confirmed that various Notifications of Enforcement Discretion issued under HIPAA during the PHE will expire at the end of the day on May 11
Coronavirus
Privacy Tip #352 – Don’t Get Scammed Ordering Your Free COVID-19 Test Kits
By Linn Foster Freedman on
Posted in Coronavirus, Privacy Tips
The federal government has implemented a program in which each household can order four free COVID-19 test kits through the United States Postal Service (USPS). This is a perfect opportunity for scammers to spoof the USPS site to try to obtain personal information from unwary users.
It is very easy to order the four tests…
Privacy Tip #312 -Impersonation Fraud Increased During Pandemic
By Linn Foster Freedman on
Posted in Coronavirus, Privacy Tips
Another fall-out from the pandemic is that impersonation fraud has increased dramatically. According to the Federal Trade Commission, “the COVID-19 pandemic has spurred a sharp spike in impersonation fraud, as scammers capitalize on confusion and concerns around shifts in the economy stemming from the pandemic.” Impersonation fraud costs “have increased an alarming 85 percent…
Smart Health Cards, Vaccine Passports, and Privacy
By Robinson+Cole's Data Privacy + Cybersecurity Team on
Posted in Coronavirus, Data Privacy
Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker and Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee recently announced that they are considering implementing vaccine passport programs in their respective states. Baker stated that he is working with other states to use a QR code system that allows users to scan to verify vaccination status. In Rhode Island, the Department of Health…
Walmart Drone Delivery Soars Ahead
By Kathryn Rattigan on
Posted in Coronavirus, Drones
This week, Walmart announced that it has invested in a drone service provider, DroneUp, to further its plans for drone delivery. Walmart President and CEO John Furner wrote in a statement, “Conducting drone deliveries at scale is within reach. DroneUp’s expertise, combined with our retail footprint and proven history of logistics innovation, puts us right…
Privacy Tip #288 – Scammers Take Advantage of Shortage of Rental Cars
By Linn Foster Freedman on
Posted in Coronavirus, Privacy Tips
Another post pandemic fallout is the fact that rental car agencies have sold their fleets, for obvious reasons. In doing so, there aren’t enough rental cars for all of us who have been stuck at home and are now raring to go on vacation.
While the shortage of rental cars naturally means higher prices, and…
Privacy Tip #277 – Beware of Vaccine Surveys
By Linn Foster Freedman on
Posted in Coronavirus, Privacy Tips
Criminals use current events to launch new schemes designed to prey on victims’ vulnerabilities or fears. Throughout the pandemic, criminals have used fear of COVID-19, or the anticipation of a cure or a vaccine, to lure victims and persuade them to provide information they can use for fraudulent purposes.
The most recent scam being reported…
Privacy Tip #275 – Think Twice Before Posting Your Vaccine Card on Social Media
By Linn Foster Freedman on
Posted in Coronavirus, Privacy Tips
Some of those who are fortunate enough to have received the COVID-19 vaccine are so excited that they have been posting their vaccine card on social media accounts. Perhaps when they post it, they are not looking at it as they would a credit card number, driver’s license, or Social Security card. However, the information…
Worldwide Plans for Apps and Cards to Prove Your Vaccination Status: Are There Privacy Concerns?
By Kathryn Rattigan on
Posted in Coronavirus, Data Privacy
A new commercial has hit the airwaves in Israel. It begins with a door swinging open to reveal a beautiful seaside patio with a couple awaiting their dinners as a voiceover says, “How much have we missed going out with friends?” Well, with the Green Pass “a door simply opens in front of you” and…
Cyber-attacks and Cybersecurity Failure Are Top Risks of the Next Decade Says World Economic Forum
By Linn Foster Freedman on
Posted in Coronavirus, Cybersecurity
Although somewhat obvious, the World Economic Forum, in partnership with Marsh McLennan, SK Group and Zurich Insurance Group, recently issued its 16th edition of the Global Risks Report (the Report), which analyzes “the risks from societal fractures—manifested through persistent and emerging risks to human health, rising unemployment, widening digital divides, youth disillusionment, and geopolitical…