August 2008

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Technology Buzzwords: Tech terms you need to know: Phishing

The seventh installment in a continuing series highlighting the latest technology terms from software to the Web. The series is designed to give you a starting point to implement the latest chiropractic software technology in your practice.

Phishing – attempting to acquire sensitive information such as social security numbers, credit card numbers, passwords, and usernames. Typically using e-mail, “phishers” normally portray themselves as a legitimate group, such as Pay Pal, Amazon.com, or a nationally known bank.

Phishers often claim to be “updating your account” or to “have lost pertinent information about you.” They often use manipulated links that appear to take you to legitimate sites. These links will send you to what appears to be an identical, or very similar, version of your regular online banking login page where you will be prompted to input your information.

Originally, phishers would send untargeted e-mails from random banks and organizations; they now can target the list by the popularity of specific banks or organizations in the area.

Even though you run a chiropractic practice and not a bank, think of the way phishers could victimize your practice or your patients.

You should also be aware of phishing scams that occur over the phone. Could a phisher use your caller-ID info to call one of your elderly patients and trick them into revealing their social security number or even credit card number?

To avoid these scams look for generic greetings, such as “Dear Valued Customer,” or “Dear Dr.” in e-mails. Another method phishers use is to reveal part of the information they want. For example, “We need to update the account info for 5933-XXXX-XXXX. Please provide your name, password and the remainder of your account number.” While these may the first four digits of your account, think of how many other customers may have the same four digits!

The best way to combat phishers is to keep your staff vigilant and inform your patients your will never ask for their personal information over the phone or through e-mail.

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