Is it safe? Security speed bumps on the information highway

The Internet is not only changing the face of computing but is redefining the manner in which medical information is stored, manipulated, and disseminated. However, before patients and clinicians can come to trust the Internet as much as traditional paper medical records, the issue of data security must be adequately addressed. Every clinician who works with patient data that are potentially accessible through the Internet should be familiar with the relevant security technologies, ranging from encryption and firewalls to intrusion detection and anti-virus software. Clinicians should also realize that security is a process and that the majority of security violations are simply the result of careless patient information handling and inadequate policies.