Quote Of The Year

Timeless Quotes - Sadly The Late Paul Shetler - "Its not Your Health Record it's a Government Record Of Your Health Information"

or

H. L. Mencken - "For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong."

Monday, July 12, 2021

Commentators and Journalists Weigh In On Digital Health And Related Privacy, Safety, Social Media And Security Matters. Lots Of Interesting Perspectives - July 13, 2021.

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This weekly blog is to explore the news around the larger issues around Digital Health, data security, data privacy, AI / ML. technology, social media and related matters.

I will also try to highlight ADHA Propaganda when I come upon it.

Just so we keep count, the latest Notes from the ADHA Board were dated 6 December, 2018 and we have seen none since! Its pretty sad!

Note: Appearance here is not to suggest I see any credibility or value in what follows. I will leave it to the reader to decide what is worthwhile and what is not! The point is to let people know what is being said / published that I have come upon.

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https://www.marketsavvy.com.au/podcasts/market-savvy-conversations/episodes/2147516297

#001 The Future of Digital Health With Dr Chris Moy

July 10, 2021

In our first episode of Market Savvy Conversations, Megan Walker interviews Dr Chris Moy (GP; Australian Digital Health Agency Lead; and Vice-President of the Australian Medical Association) on:

  • The role of the Digital Health Agency
  • The obligations of private practice business owners in relation to cyber security
  • Digital prescribing opportunities
  • Opportunities and benefits of My Health Record
  • Protecting patients during telehealth appointments

Click here to watch the video or read the full transcript and access the links mentioned in the interview.

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https://www.innovationaus.com/privacy-act-review-delayed-as-reforms-stall/

Privacy Act review delayed as reforms stall

Denham Sadler
Senior Reporter

8 July 2021

A significant review of the Privacy Act has been delayed, with a discussion paper still yet to be released 18 months after it was launched, while draft legislation introducing a new penalty scheme for data breaches announced well over two years ago still hasn’t been produced.

In response to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) inquiry into digital platforms, the federal government agreed in principle to a number of recommendations for changes to the Privacy Act, but opted to launch a new review before going ahead with them.

The review was announced in December 2019, but an issues paper was not released until October last year. Submissions were open on that paper until late 2020, with a discussion paper expected to follow. That discussion paper has not still not been produced.

The process has now been delayed, with the Attorney-General’s Department confirming that this discussion paper is still being finalised, and will be released for further consultation “shortly”.

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https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/technology/vaccine-hunt-to-shield-data-from-hackers/news-story/dfc4f3898d9bf5e8f2384627c18d1d09

‘Vaccine’ hunt to shield data from hackers

Chris Griffith

12:30AM July 10, 2021

Just as humanity has grappled with creating a vaccine for coronavirus, some technologists say we desperately need a ‘vaccine’ for ransomware.

Ransomware is now running rampant. Hackers trick users into downloading malicious computer code that encrypts files on every device in a computer network, making code unreadable and computer systems inoperable.

Hackers demand thousands, sometimes millions of dollars, for a special key they can give you which unravels the encrypted code and your data.

In 2021 hackers are impregnating ransomware on an industrial scale and are making millions.

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https://www.news.com.au/technology/online/security/powerlink-plans-to-check-employees-internet-history-under-proposed-new-security-bill/news-story/4b0e295ea76984a21f473e4d10f3e4a7

Powerlink plans to check employees’ internet history under proposed new security bill

A major company says it plans to scour workers’ internet history for “adverse online behaviour” under proposed new security laws.

James Hall

NCA NewsWire

July 10, 202112:00am

A major company says it plans to scour workers’ internet history for “adverse online behaviour” in a chilling example of how a proposed new law could apply to Australian workers.

Queensland power company Powerlink presented a number of examples of “online behaviours” it would seek to examine as part of a “digital footprint check” under a proposed amendment to security laws.

Listed in the presentation was the presence of news articles or media profiles featured in an employee’s internet search history that may bring “reputational harm” to Powerlink.

The company, which is owned by the Queensland government, also told union delegates it would search for “indications of poor reliability or trustworthiness, such as flagrant dishonesty” and if the person’s internet activity reveals signs they may “easily succumb to groupthink or other conformity pressures”.

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https://allevents.in/mornington/workshop-introduction-to-my-health-record-mornington-14-july/10000158684974029

Workshop - Introduction to My Health Record - Mornington 14 July

Wed Jul 14, 2021 ADHA Propaganda

Workshop - Introduction to My Health Record - Mornington 14 July

Are you overwhelmed by the Digital world of health care? Would you like to learn more about My Health Record?

About this Event

Recommended for adult audiences.

My Health Record can store all your health information in one place with any access to that information remaining in your control. Mornington Peninsula Libraries can teach you how during this workshop.

Join us for an information session about My Health Record, Australia’s national digital health record system. Learn how to manage your own health information online and where to access health and well-being resources through the library.

Free but Bookings Essential.

Note: If you can't make it on the day, please let us know, so that your tickets can be freed up for others to attend.

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https://stayhappening.com/e/my-health-record-glenorchy-library-E3LUSIHBCE7A

My Health Record @ Glenorchy Library

Thu Aug 05 2021 at 02:00 pm to 03:30 pm UTC+10:00

Glenorchy Library | Glenorchy ADHA Propaganda

Publisher/Host Glenorchy Library

This course will introduce you to My Health Record
About this Event
This course will introduce you to My Health Record and help you get started, as well as give you some examples for where My Health Record is useful.

If you have any questions or accessibility requirements, please contact us at 03 6165 5491

As this program is currently modified to meet public gathering restrictions, we have limited spaces available.

We ask that you please register here, or call your local library if you need help making a booking. If you are no longer able to make an event, please let us know so that others don’t miss out.

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https://www.anao.gov.au/work/performance-audit/global-switch-sydney

Global Switch Sydney

Potential audit: 2021-22

Portfolio  Australian Taxation Office; Defence; Health; Home Affairs; Treasury

Entity  Department of the Treasury; Australian Taxation Office; Department of Defence; Department of Home Affairs; Australian Digital Health Agency

Contact  Please direct enquiries through our contact page.

Activity  Procurement

Global Switch Sydney is a privately owned data centre in Ultimo in inner-city Sydney. It is the primary data repository for a number of large entities including the Department of Defence, the Australian Taxation Office, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, the Department of Home Affairs, NBN Co and the Australian Digital Health Agency. It holds about 40 petabytes of data up to secret level.

In 2016, the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) approved an application from Global Switch Sydney's owners to sell up to 51 per cent of the company to Elegant Jubilee, a consortium largely comprised of Chinese private and government entities. The proposal was approved subject to conditions. After a number of company sales and restructures, Elegant Jubilee became effectively 100 per cent Chinese owned. In September 2019, the government decided that the only way to mitigate the threat to national security was for all government entities to exit Global Switch Sydney completely. A total of $645 million has been allocated to this task (this does not include the cost of securing alternative arrangements or purchasing all new hardware). This process is underway but will not be complete until 2024–25 for Defence.

This audit would examine the risk assessment processes associated with the decision and its implementation.

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https://www.ausdoc.com.au/practice/tinder-offers-practical-incentives-getting-vaccinated-against-covid19

Tinder offers practical incentives for getting vaccinated against COVID-19

The US is turning to technology as a way of overcoming hesitancy in Gen Z

16th June 2021

By Antony Scholefield

“We have finally found the one thing that makes us all more attractive: a vaccination.”

So declared White House coronavirus advisor Andy Slavitt last month.

He was announcing that the US government had struck a deal with Tinder, Bumble, OK Cupid and a host of other dating platforms to boost vaccination rates.

The apps already allow users to filter out people of certain age categories or gender. But they’ve been updated to allow filtering of unvaccinated dates, while offering all vaccinated users small in-app bonuses.

It’s part of the US’ drive to get more of Gen Z vaccinated.

A poll by the US health news site STAT published in April shows those born after the mid-to-late 90s are much more likely than other generations to say they’d get vaccinated “when they get around to it” or that they were “waiting and seeing”.

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https://www.ausdoc.com.au/news/doctors-urged-not-discuss-effect-lethal-substances-vad-telehealth-consults

Doctors urged not to discuss 'effect of lethal substances' in VAD telehealth consults

They may risk breaking the federal law, says palliative care physician Dr Roger Hunt

8th July 2021

By Kemal Atlay

Doctors in WA have been warned to avoid talking about lethal substances, what is involved in taking them or their effects when conducting telehealth consults with terminally ill patients considering voluntary assisted dying.

The advice follows the launch of the state's voluntary euthanasia scheme last week.

The eligibility criteria and assessment process for patients are similar to the model operating in Victoria. 

However, unlike Victoria, there are clauses in WA’s legislation which have been designed to allow doctors and patients to discuss voluntary euthanasia by telehealth in situations where face-to-face consultations are impractical. 

The clauses explicitly declare that voluntary assisted dying is not suicide — wording meant to circumvent a Commonwealth criminal code against inciting or counselling a person into suicide via a “carriage service”, including phone and video calls.

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https://everi.events/event/13663951-a/click-health-my-way-information-session-at-manning-library

City of South Perth Libraries presents

Click - Health My Way Information Session at Manning Library

·         Tue 3rd Aug 2021, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM  ADHA Propaganda

·         South Terrace & Sandgate St, Como WA 6152

·         Book Tickets

·         View Website

Join us at Manning Library and learn about My Health Record - What is it? What's on it? And how can I make it work for my needs?

Taking place at Manning Library in the function room. Select one of the following talks learn all about your My Health Record account through the myGov website. You will learn:

  • What is My Health Record
  • How it works
  • What your My Health Record account contains
  • Security Features
  • Pros and Cons
  • Removing your Account

We will end with a brief walkthrough of the My Health Record site so you can see what it's like to login and navigate your account.

After the talk, you'll have an opportunity to sign up for some one-on-one assistance with a member of staff if you would like a little more help.

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https://stayhappening.com/e/workshop-introduction-to-my-health-record-mornington-14-july-E3LUSGJQPQQJ

Workshop - Introduction to My Health Record - Mornington 14 July

Wed Jul 14 2021 at 11:00 am to 12:00 pm UTC+10:00 ADHA Propaganda

Mornington Library | Mornington

Publisher/Host Mornington Peninsula Library Service (Our Library)

Are you overwhelmed by the Digital world of health care? Would you like to learn more about My Health Record?
About this Event

Recommended for adult audiences.

My Health Record can store all your health information in one place with any access to that information remaining in your control. Mornington Peninsula Libraries can teach you how during this workshop.

Join us for an information session about My Health Record, Australia’s national digital health record system. Learn how to manage your own health information online and where to access health and well-being resources through the library.

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https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2021/07/government-my-health-record-app/

The Government Wants to Develop a My Health Record App, Because COVIDSafe Went So Well

Lauren Rouse

July 8, 2021 at 12:48 pm -

The Australian government is moving forward on the development of a digital app for My Health Record. If you’re ever heard of the COVIDSafe app, you can probably guess how this might go.

My Health Record has picked up its fair share of controversy over the years. The system centralises all patient health data into one place, which is accessible by the individual and health practitioners.

It’s been the subject of numerous privacy concerns, which have only been bolstered by the multiple data breach attempts in recent years. And now we have a new app to add to the mix.

A My Health Record App is on the way

The Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA) has revealed the first phase of its plan to modernise the national digital health infrastructure.

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https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/technology/tech-firms-baulk-at-proposed-cybersecurity-powers/news-story/1e051d3b71528755311855d4db4f05f5

Tech firms baulk at proposed cybersecurity powers

Chris Griffith

Tech firms have told a parliamentary inquiry they see little value in the help the Australian Signals Directorate can add to their efforts in the event of a cyberattack. And they are concerned that the government wants to give itself unilateral powers to step in and intervene in company operations in the event of a cyberattack.

Microsoft, Google, Amazon Web Services, Atlassian and AUCloud today gave evidence to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security on the protocols and systems that would operate in the event of a cyberattack on Australian infrastructure.

The committee is examining the Security Legislation Amendment (Critical Infrastructure) Bill, proposed legislation that is becoming crucial as Australia responds to the alarming increase in cyberattacks and ransomware attacks on infrastructure and supply lines.

The issues raised included government powers, the applications of warrants, the time frame for notifying the Australian Signals Directorate, and the use of ASD software on company systems.

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https://jnews.com.au/2021/07/06/government-strategy-software-to-build-my-health-record-application/

Government – Strategy – Software to build my health record application

By Editorial Staff

The federal government will develop its own mobile app for Australians to access my health records, as the country’s national digital health infrastructure grows.

The Australian Digital Health Agency this week unveiled plans for native iOS and Android mobile apps – or sets of native apps – to increase access to information on health records.

This close consultation giant follows Deloitte’s agreement to provide a health information gateway Change the Oracle API Gateway that follows my health records.

The deal, which the agency has now revealed, will cost a fortune $ 1 million in three years, Represents the first phase of a so-called national infrastructure modernization program that will upgrade health records.

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https://www.youtube.com/c/MyHealthRecordAus/playlists?app=desktop&view=1&sort=dd&shelf_id=0

My Health Record  - Youtube Channel

592 subscribers

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https://www.itwire.com/open-sauce/abc-mum-when-asked-if-iview-user-data-is-fed-to-google,-facebook.html

Author's Opinion

The views in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of iTWire.

 

Tuesday, 06 July 2021 10:02

ABC mum when asked if iview user data is fed to Google, Facebook

By Sam Varghese

The ABC is unwilling to say whether it provides Google and Facebook access to the data of iview users, a considerable number of whom have created accounts to access the service prior to 1 July based on ABC warnings that logins would be compulsory in the new financial year.

The broadcaster had said for some months prior to 1 July that it would make logins to use iview — a service that allows users to see programs that have already been broadcast or, in some cases, which are yet to go to air — compulsory from that date.

But when asked on that day, the ABC said it was putting off the compulsory logins for at least six months. It did not announce this of its own accord, but only revealed the change of policy when asked about it by media outlets.

The ABC is one of the media organisations that has signed deals with Facebook and Google under the government's news media code, but will not say whether user data is being fed to these two organisations as part of those deals either.

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https://www.csoonline.com/article/3623049/australian-authorities-among-world-s-biggest-requesters-of-personal-data.html

Australian authorities among world’s biggest requesters of personal data

Big Tech is sharing personal info as authorities run roughshod over privacy protections.

By David Braue

Editor at Large, CSO | 1 July 2021 6:00 AEST

Authorities are requesting personal data from major tech companies at three times the rate of a few years ago, according to new figures that found Australians are the world’s tenth most-surveilled populace. And the surveillance is only increasing, with multiple audits showing questionable access of citizens’ data by police and other authorities.

The most invasive countries in terms of social media requests

Australian authorities lodged 195 requests for user data per 100,000 people, according to a new Surfshark analysis of 3.1 million requests made by the governments of 66 countries to Google, Facebook, Microsoft, and Apple between 2013 and 2020.

That reflected an overall increase of 213% since 2013. And, while US authorities made 1.1 million of those requests—ranking fifth with 334 requests per 100,000 population—European countries actually dominated the Top 10 list, with Malta (765), Germany (353), the UK (336), France (315), Ireland (302), and Luxembourg (246) reflecting the surveillance culture on that continent.

Singapore, with 373 requests per 100,000, was ranked the second-most-intrusive government, while—in a likely reflection of a government that already collects massive volumes of information about its citizens directly—China ranked last, with just 362 requests over the eight-year period.

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https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/my-health-record-glenorchy-library-tickets-162233379405

05 August, 2021

My Health Record @ Glenorchy Library

by Glenorchy Library  ADHA Propaganda

This course will introduce you to My Health Record

About this event

This course will introduce you to My Health Record and help you get started, as well as give you some examples for where My Health Record is useful.

If you have any questions or accessibility requirements, please contact us at 03 6165 5491

As this program is currently modified to meet public gathering restrictions, we have limited spaces available.

We ask that you please register here, or call your local library if you need help making a booking. If you are no longer able to make an event, please let us know so that others don’t miss out.

To help us deliver a successful program please...

• Register all participants on Eventbrite as we can’t allow walk-ins.

• Follow Physical distancing requirements. Please assist children with this.

• Practice good hygiene. We will provide sanitiser for you.

• Do not visit the library if you’re unwell

Thanks for your help. We look forward to seeing you.

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https://www.itwire.com/your-it/apps/how-facebook%E2%80%99s-dark-ads-amplify-regressive,-racist,-or-sexist-activity.html

Monday, 05 July 2021 10:36

How Facebook’s dark ads amplify regressive, racist, or sexist activity

By Kenn Anthony Mendoza

Dark ads, according to Monash University researchers, are stereotyped ads that are only visible to its intended audiences. Researchers warn that it reinforces sexist messages to its target: for example, men were three times more likely to see finance ads while women saw more clothing and wellness ads. They also added that a public forum or a discussion on these ads was urgently needed.

Facebook’s data-driven micro-targeting dark ads lack accountability and could enable the spread of disinformation, discrimination, and harmful stereotyping, according to findings by Monash University researchers.

Monash University researchers from Automated Society Working Group in the School of Media, Film, and Journalism in the Faculty of Arts have devised a tool to publicise what ads reach people online and how advertising is distributed across demographic groups.

According to the researchers, dark ads are visible only to those to whom they are delivered. This means the content is not available for public inspection, the pattern of distribution is unclear, and they tend to be short-lived and undergo constant transformation—making them difficult to track.

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https://www.hospitalhealth.com.au/content/aged-allied-health/news/bush-medicine-knowledge-flows-to-digital-records-350062770

Bush medicine knowledge flows to digital records

Monday, 05 July, 2021

The Australian Digital Health Agency has released a new video showing the importance of bush medicine in Indigenous culture and health, and how My Health Record can be used to manage that information for the holistic care of patients.

“I ask my patients what bush medicines they are using and include that information in the medical records in our clinic, and this feeds into My Health Record,” said Dr Jason King, a Yued Noongar man from Dandaragan, WA, and Director of Clinical Services and Senior Medical Officer at Gurriny Yealamucka Health Service in Yarrabah, Queensland.

The Agency’s new video marks NAIDOC Week 2021 (4–11 July) and features Linc Walker, owner and tour guide at Kuku Yalanji Cultural Habitat Tours in Cooya Beach, north of Port Douglas in Queensland, and pharmacist Brad Reilly from Live Life Pharmacy in Port Douglas. The tours have been running for 22 years and were started by Walker and his brother Brandon to help preserve ancient cultural activities and knowledge.

“We use traditional medicine because we’ve always used it. When we were young it was too far to town, the shops were too far away and so we had to do this. It’s part of our life still,” Walker said

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https://www.hospitalhealth.com.au/content/nursing/news/smart-dressings-glow-if-wound-not-healing-1446437462

Smart dressings glow if wound not healing

Wednesday, 30 June, 2021

RMIT researchers have developed smart wound dressings with built-in nanosensors that glow to alert patients when a wound is not healing properly.

The antimicrobial, antifungal dressings, containing magnesium hydroxide, can be used to monitor healing progress as they contain fluorescent sensors that glow brightly under UV light if infection starts to set in. The magnesium hydroxide nanosheets respond to changes in pH — healthy skin is naturally slightly acidic, while infected wounds are moderately alkaline. Under UV light, the nanosheets glow brightly in alkaline environments and fade in acidic conditions, indicating the different pH levels that mark the stages of wound healing.

The magnesium-hydroxide-based dressings are cheaper to produce than silver-based dressings and are reported to be equally as effective in fighting bacteria and fungi, with their antimicrobial effect lasting up to a week.

Project leader and Vice-Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Fellow at RMIT Dr Vi Khanh Truong said the development of cost-effective antimicrobial dressings with built-in healing sensors would be a significant advance in wound care.

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https://lens.monash.edu/@politics-society/2021/07/05/1383395/going-dark-holding-platforms-to-account-over-targeted-online-advertising

05 July 2021

Politics and society

Going dark: Holding platforms to account over targeted online advertising

A recent expose by the investigative journalists at The Markup revealed how Facebook uses detailed information about what people do online – the websites they visit and the search terms they use – to allow pharmaceutical companies to target people regarding medical conditions in which they’ve shown an interest.

This marketing strategy builds on the fact that one of the first places people turn to when they learn or suspect that they or their loved ones might be sick is the internet.

The fact that platforms may know more about us than our doctors reflects an apparent paradox – even when public schemes like My Health Record face widespread public scepticism, online platforms are largely escaping scrutiny for amassing detailed portraits of all the health conditions with which we might be associated.

This information feeds a hugely important structural shift in the dominant model of advertising, towards advertising that’s becoming both increasingly pervasive and less accountable.

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https://www.itnews.com.au/news/treasury-to-expand-consumer-data-right-with-three-new-sharing-models-566842

Treasury to expand consumer data right with three new sharing models

By Justin Hendry on Jul 5, 2021 6:52AM

Moves to "lower barriers to participation".

Treasury has begun consulting on new rules that would significantly expand the number of businesses able to ingest data under the consumer data right in a bid to “encourage greater uptake”.

An exposure draft of version three of the rules was released on Friday, making good on a proposal first revealed in April to “support new pathways for participation in the CDR”.

At present, only accredited data recipients (ADRs) are able to receive a consumer’s data from data holders and make use of it in their own products or services.

Nine ADRs are currently endorsed by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, including the fintechs like Frollo and Ezidox, credit bureau illion and the Commonwealth Bank.

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https://www.afr.com/world/europe/massive-ransomware-attack-may-have-hit-thousands-of-businesses-20210704-p586nk

Massive ransomware attack may have hit thousands of businesses

William Turton

Jul 4, 2021 – 9.39am

Washington | Just weeks after US President Joe Biden implored Vladimir Putin to curb cyber crime, a notorious, Russia-linked ransomware gang has been accused of pulling off an audacious attack on the global software supply chain.

REvil, the group blamed for the May 30 ransomware attack of meatpacking giant JBS, is believed to be behind hacks on at least 20 managed service providers (MSPs), which provide IT services to small- and medium-sized businesses.

More than 1000 businesses have already been affected, a figure that is expected to grow, according to cybersecurity firm Huntress Labs.

“Based on a combination of the service providers reaching out to us for assistance, along with the comments we’re seeing in the thread we are tracking on our Reddit, it’s reasonable to think this could potentially be impacting thousands of small businesses,” said John Hammond, a cybersecurity researcher at Huntress Labs.

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Comments more than welcome!

David.

 

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

#001 The Future of Digital Health With Dr Chris Moy

He's at it again, desperately trying to talk up MyHR.

He finally gets round to mentioning it at 18:50 when he refers to as the "forgotten little thing". He tells his listeners that it is a secure drop box, where health providers can access information that is normally sent by other means. He claims that one of the biggest thing is finding out if your patient has been vaccinated and when they had it. He says that the fastest way to find out is through MyHR, which gets its data from the AIR. While the provider is in the MyHR they can look around to see if there is anything else of interest.

If that's the best Dr Hoy can come up with he really ought to have a quiet think about what he's really saying. Maybe he could explain why the source of truth i.e. the AIR should always be the first place to look?

Anonymous said...

The federal government has handed Accenture a further $57 million to support the My Health Record for another year while its massive national infrastructure modernisation program continues.
It brings the total cost of the national infrastructure operator (NIO) deal with the tech giant to $629.5 million over 10 years.
The Australian Digital Health Agency revealed the cost of the revised contract late last week, just days after confirming it had extended the deal until at least July 2022.

Bernard Robertson-Dunn said...

"massive national infrastructure modernisation program" is a bit of an over statement. All they are doing is re-engineering the gateway into MyHR so hey can replace it with an API into a hub that can feed MyHR and other systems. Accenture can probably look forward to another 5 years at least of contract renewal. I'm a bit surprised that this is legal, I would have thought they should have put it out to tender at some time in the past ten years.

John said...

The decision making level changes all to frequently. I guess that plus into Accenture quite well as each new team needs to go through a discovery process. That process probably provides some protection from making strategic investment decisions. Only guessing.

Shame New Zealand is a country and not tier one consultancy.

G. Carter said...

Dr Hoy line is setting the stage for the replatforming - simply state the current is underwhelming so that as you consult on the emerging you can state it is much improved. No need to measure if it is beneficial if if it has found a problem to solve. This is all standard government tactics. The best bit is not one is incorrect

Sarah Conner said...

Fascinating or disturbing or both that the government can push through invasive measures under the guise of cybersecurity and inter-government data sharing. When it comes to privacy and citizens rights, the government appears to be out for a very long lunch. Why is that?

Oliver Frank said...

Is this saying that My Health record data is held by a Chinese-owned company?:
"Global Switch Sydney is a privately owned data centre in Ultimo in inner-city Sydney.
It is the primary data repository for (...) the Australian Digital Health Agency. (...) In 2016, the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) approved an application from Global Switch Sydney's owners to sell up to 51 per cent of the company to Elegant Jubilee, a consortium largely comprised of Chinese private and government entities. (...) After a number of company sales and restructures, Elegant Jubilee became effectively 100 per cent Chinese owned."

Sarah Conner said...

Might explain it low level of interest by cyber attacks - why target something you own or have.

This does raise a huge number of red flags (not the Gang of Four type).

Anonymous said...

Zach why does your name link to a Canadian drug store?

Dr David G More MB PhD said...

Zach posted some spam and I missed it. Deleted!

David

G. Carter said...

Re: Oliver Frank - sure sounds like an own goal by our less than impressive public sector.

In September 2019, the government decided that the only way to mitigate the threat to national security was for all government entities to exit Global Switch Sydney completely. A total of $645 million has been allocated to this task (this does not include the cost of securing alternative arrangements or purchasing all new hardware). This process is underway but will not be complete until 2024–25 for Defence.

Have they lost the ability to craft and secure exit strategies? Once again trying to sneak serious matters under the radar, time Dutton had his marching orders, the bloke is a menace to society

Anonymous said...

Incomprehensible!!! How on earth can the Australian Government have so many large government entities, Defence, NbnCo, ASIC, ADHA, etc., all storing petabytes of highly sensitive data in the same 'place' and then allow the entity in control of the storage facility (data centre) to sell a controlling interest (51%) to a chinese controlled entity WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE FOREIGN INVESTMENT REVIEW BOARD?

It's absolutely incomprehensible. Have our bureaucrats and politicians gone completely mad?

Anonymous said...

I am deleting ALL My Health Record data and opting out immediately.

ADHA Staffer said...

I think you will find you cannot delete your record. Regardless of what ADHA claims, the system was designed to be a preservation tool not a disposal tool. They can hide it and give the app reactance it has disappeared but it can be retrieved. The solution was a hack job on a pre-existing function.

There are also back-ups, backups of backups and archives.

G. Carter said...

ADHA Staffer, that was my understanding from the early releases, would not surprise me if it was never fully implemented. They (Gov) can send it overseas to an Accenture support desk, they can sell it to the Chinese, they can pass it to other “agencies”, they can leave it on a USB stick in the back of a cab, seems almost anyone can download it via a clinical end point - but you most certainly cannot have personal control over it or have it delete it.

Anonymous said...

Does that constitute a data breech? And reportable? Seems a massive breakdown of governance

Sadly there is little news, I guess news outlets are to busy chasing sensational stories for whatever reason

Dean Manning said...

AnonymousJuly 17, 2021 10:08 AM - simple answer - no there is evidence of a breech.

Certainly a case for broken governance or at least double standards.