Howard Anderson

Former News Editor, ISMG

Anderson was news editor of Information Security Media Group and founding editor of HealthcareInfoSecurity and DataBreachToday. He has more than 40 years of journalism experience, with a focus on healthcare information technology issues. Before launching HealthcareInfoSecurity, he served as founding editor of Health Data Management magazine, where he worked for 17 years, and he served in leadership roles at several other healthcare magazines and newspapers.

VA Fixing Contracts' Security Terms

Howard Anderson • July 13, 2010

An audit has determined that 10 to 20 percent of the Department of Veterans Affairs' vendor contracts lack information security clauses, VA CIO Roger Baker says.

FAA Criticized for IT Security

Howard Anderson • June 28, 2010

The Federal Aviation Administration is inadequately securing medical and personal information on the more than 3 million airmen who it certifies as being fit to operate an aircraft, according to a new report.

Medicare, Medicaid Using Anti-Fraud Tool

Howard Anderson • June 23, 2010

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is the first government agency to use a new fraud mapping tool.

VA Security Incidents for May Revealed

Howard Anderson • June 16, 2010

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs says six laptops were stolen from its facilities in May, but none of the thefts resulted in a breach.

VA Tries to Polish Its Image

Howard Anderson • June 14, 2010

Faced with a batch of bad publicity about healthcare information security, the Department of Veterans Affairs has launched an effort to help polish its image.

Security Task Force Details Emerge

Howard Anderson • June 9, 2010

A new federal healthcare task force on privacy and security, which will hold its first meetings June 10 and 11, will initially focus on policies and standards for the exchange of health information.

5 To Be Fired For Social Media Use

Howard Anderson • June 8, 2010

A California hospital will fire five employees and discipline another because they used social media to post personal discussions about hospital patients.

Crafting a Social Media Security Policy

Howard Anderson • June 2, 2010

Interview with Sharon Finney, corporate security officer at Adventist Health System.

Stolen Laptop Breach Affects 61,000

Howard Anderson • June 1, 2010

The theft of an unencrypted laptop from an employee's car resulted in a breach affecting more than 61,000 patients at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.

$50,000 Fine in Records Dumping Case

Howard Anderson • May 24, 2010

A North Carolina urgent care center has paid a $50,000 settlement because its patient information was disposed of in a dumpster last year in violation of state law.

VA Breach Blasted by Congressman

Howard Anderson • May 17, 2010

A Congressman is citing the recent theft of an unencrypted laptop containing health information on 616 veterans as evidence that the Department of Veterans Affairs is not doing enough to protect information.

The Wit and Wisdom of Howard Schmidt

Howard Anderson • May 13, 2010

Whitehouse Cybersecurity Coordinator Howard Schmidt used wit to share his wisdom about healthcare information security in a rambling, folksy keynote address this week. He stressed that healthcare organizations of all sizes need to take security more seriously.