Security News

NHS App gets go-ahead for vaccine passport use despite protest from privacy groups
2021-05-11 15:15

Folks in England can from next week use the NHS App to confer their vaccination status, in the face of warnings that the technology could lead to identifiable medical information being exposed. The British government has announced that from 17 May, people will be able to demonstrate their COVID-19 vaccination status - a so-called vaccine passport or certificate - using the NHS App, which began its public rollout in January 2019, well before the pandemic.

NHS App gets go-ahead for UK vaccine passport use despite protest from privacy groups
2021-05-11 15:15

Folks in England can from next week use the NHS App to confer their vaccination status, in the face of warnings that the technology could lead to identifiable medical information being exposed. The British government has announced that from 17 May, people will be able to demonstrate their COVID-19 vaccination status - a so-called vaccine passport or certificate - using the NHS App, which began its public rollout in January 2019, well before the pandemic.

Beware of this active UK NHS COVID-19 vaccination phishing attack
2021-01-25 23:27

A very active phishing campaign is underway pretending to be from the UK's National Health Service, alerting recipients that they are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The phishing email, shown below, asks the recipient if they want to accept or decline the invitation to schedule their COVID-19 vaccination.

Beware of active UK NHS COVID-19 vaccination phishing campaign
2021-01-25 23:27

A very active phishing campaign is underway pretending to be from the UK's National Health Service, alerting recipients that they are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The phishing email, shown below, asks the recipient if they want to accept or decline the invitation to schedule their COVID-19 vaccination.

Test and Trace chief Dido Harding prompted to self-isolate by NHS COVID-19 app
2020-11-18 12:11

There's nothing quite like eating your own dog food, as Test and Trace chief Baroness Dido Harding has learned after being instructed to self-isolate by the NHS COVID-19 contact-tracing app overnight. In a tweet this morning, Harding said she was feeling well, and that there's "Nothing like personal experience of your own products." A screenshot posted to Twitter shows Harding with nine days remaining in her isolation period.

Protecting the NHS: NCSC fended off lots of meddling aimed at UK health orgs while ransomware ramped up
2020-11-03 12:28

Issuing the org's annual report today, NCSC chief exec Lindy Cameron, who formally replaced founding chief Ciaran Martin in the summer, said: "This review outlines the breadth of remarkable work delivered by the NCSC in the past year, largely against a backdrop of the shared global crisis of coronavirus." "We've added a significant amount of support to healthcare," added NCSC ops director Paul Chichester, referring to a number of incidents, some higher profile than others, during the year.

UK privacy watchdog confirms probe into NHS England COVID-19 app after complaints of spammy emails, texts
2020-10-01 09:05

Britain's Information Commissioner's Office has confirmed it is investigating grumbles about heavy-handed marketing emails and texts promoting the NHS COVID-19 contact-tracing app in England. Between 26 and 27 September, NHS Test and Trace messaged anyone resident in the country who was over the age of 16 and had previously provided their contact details to a GP. Those contacted had not specifically opted in to receive marketing communications regarding the NHS COVID-19 app.

UK privacy watchdog confirms probe into NHS England COVID-19 app after complaints of spammy emails, texts
2020-10-01 09:05

Britain's Information Commissioner's Office has confirmed it is investigating grumbles about heavy-handed marketing emails and texts promoting the NHS COVID-19 contact-tracing app in England. Between 26 and 27 September, NHS Test and Trace messaged anyone resident in the country who was over the age of 16 and had previously provided their contact details to a GP. Those contacted had not specifically opted in to receive marketing communications regarding the NHS COVID-19 app.

Former UK Labour deputy leader wants to know how the NHS's contact-tracing app will ensure user privacy
2020-06-24 16:15

Harriet Harman MP, chair of Britain's Commons Human Rights Committee, has written to UK health secretary Matt Hancock seeking clarity on privacy aspects of the government's latest coronavirus contact-tracing app. "It is still crucial that people in the UK should be able to feel reassured that their data protection, privacy, and non-discrimination rights are protected in any contact tracing system," she wrote.

Unmanned drones to slash NHS delivery times to one-fifth of road 'n' rail transport
2020-05-26 14:41

Remote-control drones are to be used to deliver coronavirus testing kits to a remote Scottish hospital - and they're being flown outside of the operators' direct line of sight. Backed by the local NHS trust, drone firm Skyports will fly drones between the Isle of Mull and Oban, the closest town on the Scottish mainland.