Picture this scenario: You've used every tool you have to secure your web pages and forms so patient information is safe. One day, a potential patient Googles "hysterectomy options" and ends up on your hospital's website. They browse around, maybe even schedule an appointment online. You have no reason to worry, right? Because you've done what you could to secure those pages. But behind the scenes, a tiny piece of code called Meta Pixel is secretly reporting every move this user makes back to Facebook. Yes, Facebook is learning about this patient's potential need for a hysterectomy. Disturbing? Absolutely. A HIPAA violation? You bet.

But this isn't just a healthcare problem. Any company dealing with sensitive customer data - financial institutions, online retailers, and healthcare platforms - could be unknowingly supplying Facebook a trove of private information. And the cost of getting caught is substantial, HIPAA violations can cost your organization up to $1.5 million per year, per violation category.

The Sneaky Culprit: Meta Pixel

Meta Pixel is a free tool offered by Meta (the company formerly known as Facebook) that helps businesses track website activity and optimize advertising. Sounds innocent enough, right? The problem is, this little code snippet is a data vacuum, sucking up everything from basic browsing data to highly sensitive information like:

Real-World Consequences: It's Not Just About the Fines (But They're Big)

Several health networks across the U.S. have faced lawsuits with multimillion-dollar settlements for patient privacy breaches. While the sources don't disclose exact figures for these settlements, it's safe to say they're enough to make any company Board nervous..

And it's not just the financial hit. A data breach can:

Time to roll up your sleeves : Who to Talk to & How to Get Their Attention

Even though you may be aware of the insidious nature of pixel trackers and other data harvesting tools, getting data privacy on the priority list often means navigating internal roadblocks and convincing decision-makers who might not see it as an urgent issue.

Our three step plan shows you how to help your organization prioritize data privacy:

2. Craft Your Pitch: Do Not Focus on the Fear Factor but on the Bottom Line):

Make it a Team Effort: Foster a Culture of Data Privacy

Data privacy isn't just the IT, Info-Sec or Compliance department's responsibility. Offer regular training to employees on data security best practices and make sure everyone understands the importance of protecting customer information.

The post Is Your Website Leaking Sensitive Patient Information to Facebook? A disturbing story about HIPAA (and How to Avoid It) appeared first on Feroot Security.

*** This is a Security Bloggers Network syndicated blog from Feroot Security authored by mykola myroniuk. Read the original post at: https://www.feroot.com/blog/is-your-website-leaking-sensitive-patient-information-to-facebook-a-disturbing-story-about-hipaa-and-how-to-avoid-it/