What does it mean to have a secure chiropractic website? Don’t all chiropractic web design specialists ensure websites are configured to incorporate programming elements to prevent hacking?
Unfortunately, the answer to that question is no. Unless you specifically hire a developer with experience creating chiropractic practice websites, you will likely get something that leaves a lot to be desired– and completely open to hackers.
Why Chiropractic Websites are Targets of Cyberattacks
Any type of healthcare provider website is susceptible to cyberattacks for several reasons. The top reason involves patient information, including social security numbers, bank accounts, and primary addresses. If a hacker can swipe parts of a patient’s records, it gives them enough knowledge to engage in identity theft and, ultimately, steal money from checking or credit card accounts.
Like other health providers, chiropractors focus exclusively on their highest priority– their patients. It’s easy for busy chiropractors to overlook exploitable cracks in their websites that they expect chiropractic web design developers to secure for them.
3 Ways Hackers Compromise Patient Information
What is a Secure Chiropractic Website?
Let’s take an in-depth look at what a professional chiropractic website design should include in its programming code to prevent unauthorized intrusions:
SSL Encryption
Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption applies specific algorithms to data that is communicated between servers and their clients. These algorithms replace client-server transmissions with variables that turn these transmissions into incomprehensible lines of gibberish. Let’s say a staff member is making changes to a client’s bank account information. When that member sends information to the server to be placed into the client’s file, SSL encryption would then displace “West Chester Bank account number 4208745” with a series of alphanumeric variables that are decrypted with an exclusive key known only to the chiropractor’s office staff.
SSL encryption is much more complicated than described above and offers superior protection against hackers attempting to steal and sell patient information. Even if a hacker manages to access patient data, they will be unable to read or use the data.
Websites incorporating SSL encryption will have a padlock icon and “https” visible in their address bars. The SSL certificate providing the strongest level of security for any chiropractic web design is called the Extended Validation (EV) SSL certificate. All medical websites should have an EV SSL certification to protect data assets.
Firewalls
Firewalls are security software devices that protect networks by blocking malicious traffic that could infect a computer with malware. A firewall offers excellent anti-hacking security by allowing only incoming communications recognized as safe.
Types of firewalls include:
- Proxy service
- Packet-filtering
- Unified threat management
- Stateful multi-layer inspection
- Network address translation
- Virtual
- Next-generation
Chiropractic website design experts at ViziSites will determine which kind of firewall would best suit your practice and recommend firewalls be implemented along with other website security measures.
5 Reasons Why You Need to Secure Your Chiropractic Website
Possible Litigation
Class action lawsuits have been filed by patients who have had their personal data stolen by cybercriminals hacking into unsecured healthcare websites. Whether you are a chiropractor, dermatologist, or surgeon, you could be facing expensive liability lawsuits if your website is not properly secured.
Removal from Google Searches
Medical practice websites infected with malware can be detected by Firefox and Chrome browsers. The website may be blacklisted or removed to avoid visitors from being infected by malware.
Reputational Damage
Even if a hacker manages to steal only a minimal amount of patient data from a chiropractic website, the practice will still have to reveal to all patients that a few other patients’ information has been compromised. This could result in a substantial loss of patients who no longer have the confidence in the practice to keep their personal data secure.
Lower Search Engine Ranking
A secure chiropractic website will consistently rank higher than an unsecured or partially secured chiropractic website. Search engine crawlers are configured to detect whether a website is HTTPS or HTTP (not secured). Blacklisted websites also rank low, if at all, until the malware has been removed from the site.
Work with Professional Chiropractic Web Design Experts at ViziSites
Impress new and existing patients with secure, state-of-the-art web designs that set your practice apart from other chiropractic websites. Have more questions about website security standards at ViziSites? Call us at 760-658-9303 opt. 1 or contact a consultant today for a free demo!
