title: Security threats and trends in society.
abstract: This paper is concerned with what can go wrong in health information systems and focuses attention on new trends in computer technology that might generate a vulnerable structure of opportunities for committing unlawful or unethical acts that could threaten our society. Malicious threats are distinguished from accidental threats. Several of the many threats to security in a health environment are reviewed, as well as new trends in technology and in society that might have an effect on health data security. Particular attention is given to microcomputers, unauthorized access to networks and databases, 'viruses', as well as encryption, memory cards and 'information standards'. Some reasons are given to explain why crimes can be committed in the health care environment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hospital and Medico-Social Sciences, University of Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: F H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Roger
mesh_terms: D003219:Confidentiality; D003415:Crime / Q000517:prevention & control; D003628:Database Management Systems / Q000592:standards; D005568:Forms and Records Control / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008499:Medical Records; D011786:Quality Control; D012637:Security Measures / Q000592:standards*; D012940:Social Problems / Q000639:trends*