Protecting Your Health Data: A Privacy Guide

Practical Steps to Protect Your Health Information

Health data breaches are increasingly common, with millions of records exposed each year. While you can’t control how healthcare providers protect your data, you can take steps to minimize your risk and protect information under your control.

Understand the Risks

Health data is valuable to criminals because it contains:

• Social Security numbers
• Insurance information
• Personal identifiers
• Information useful for insurance fraud

Unlike credit card fraud, health data theft can take years to discover and resolve.

Secure Your Devices

Your phone and computer may contain health information. Protect them:

Enable device security:

• Use strong passwords or biometric locks
• Enable remote wipe capabilities
• Keep operating systems updated
• Use encrypted storage

Be careful with apps:

• Read privacy policies before downloading health apps
• Limit app permissions to what’s necessary
• Choose apps with on-device storage (like VertexMD)
• Avoid apps that sell your data

Protect Your Online Accounts

Patient portals and health apps need strong protection:

• Use unique, complex passwords
• Enable two-factor authentication
• Don’t reuse passwords across sites
• Consider a password manager

Be Careful What You Share

Think twice before sharing health information:

• Social media posts about medical conditions
• Unencrypted emails with health details
• Phone conversations in public places
• Forms asking for unnecessary health information

Review Your Records Regularly

Check your medical records and insurance statements for:

• Treatments you didn’t receive
• Providers you’ve never visited
• Incorrect personal information
• Signs of identity theft

Choose Privacy-First Tools

When selecting health apps, look for:

• On-device storage - Data stays on your phone
• End-to-end encryption - Even the company can’t read your data
• No data selling - Read the privacy policy carefully
• HIPAA-aligned practices - Security standards matter

VertexMD was built privacy-first. Your health data is stored on your device, encrypted with 256-bit AES-GCM, and never leaves your device for AI processing.

What to Do If Your Data Is Breached

If a healthcare provider notifies you of a breach:

1. Place a fraud alert on your credit reports
2. Consider a credit freeze
3. Monitor insurance statements closely
4. Report any fraudulent activity immediately
5. Keep records of all communications