Posted June 1, 2018 in Business, Dental Tech
This week, the FBI released a warning to EVERYONE (literally everyone) that your internet router may be infected by a virus called “VPNFilter” which was created by “foreign cyber actors”. When I first received an email about this, I admittedly thought it was a bogus email alert. I checked multiple sources, including the FBI website itself and sure enough – this is TRUE! (click here for FBI news release)
Immediate Action
- First, determine if YOUR device is affected. Here is a list of devices potentially affected: List of Devices Affected
- Second, reboot your router (if your device is affected). The FBI has asked everyone to reboot their device in order to stop the virus from attacking. The easiest way to reboot your router is simply to unplug the power, wait 10 seconds, and then plug the power back in.
- Third, update your router firmware. The FBI has not issued this request, but this is a standard best practice to keep your router up to date with the latest security patches. If you need help with this, please contact your IT company for assistance.
Insight from SK Tech Group
- Most SK customers use a security technology called a “managed firewall router”, which has both hardware, software, and a subscription service to provide protection from this type of exploit. Several years ago this was not necessary for a dental practice, however this is now clearly a standard best practice solution and must be incorporated into the overall protection of patient data and HIPAA compliance.
- For any affected customers NOT using our latest security technology, our Continuous Care team will connect remotely and perform the necessary steps to manually secure the network router.
- If you have any questions or concerns, need help with a home router device, or would like to inquire about enrollment in our Continuous Care technology services – please contact our Continuous Care team at 888-654-1299.
What is an Internet Router? How do I find it?
This is a device that almost every business and home network uses to connect from your ISP (such as Comcast or Verizon), to provide sharing and security of the internet to your network. This diagram illustrates the most common setup – see the “Wireless Router” below as the device that should be rebooted.
Common Router-Modem Setup
