Amazon is rolling out a new “feature” called Sidewalk. If you have any Alexa devices or certain Ring devices on a network we say get off the Sidewalk! At least until you figure out how it can be secured.
In this episode:
Get off the sidewalk! – Ep 283
The HIPAA Boot Camp
Virtual Edition Feb 23-25, 2021
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HIPAA Say What!?!
[08:32] HHS Rule Changes Allow for Cybersecurity DonationsHHS Rule Changes Allow for Cybersecurity Donations
The cybersecurity exceptions are contained in a 627-page final rule issued on Friday by the Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and a 1,049-page final rule issued by the HHS Office of Inspector General modifying so-called Stark Law and federal anti-kickback regulations.
Broad range of services: Those include developing, installing and updating cybersecurity software and providing cybersecurity training services. Those services include training on how to use the cybersecurity technology; how to prevent, detect and respond to cyberthreats; and how to troubleshoot problems with the cybersecurity technology, for example, via “help desk” services.
“The types of technology to which the cybersecurity exception is applicable include, but are not limited to, software that provides malware prevention, software security measures to protect endpoints that allow for network access control, business continuity software, data protection and encryption and email traffic filtering,” CMS notes in the rule.
There are a lot of things that we think need to be defined before this can be as helpful as it is intended to be. Listen in to the audio to get all of it because we were free styling there for sure.
Get Off the Sidewalk!
[22:15] Amazon is rolling out a new “feature” called Sidewalk. If you have any Alexa devices or certain Ring devices on a network we say get off the Sidewalk!What is Amazon Sidewalk
This is a new feature being rolled out by Amazon to its customers on their Alexa and Ring ecosystems. It is all about making those things “work better”.
Why get off it
[27:34] Why do we think you should turn off this feature? There are several reasons we have found that we think needs to be tested. Also, until we see the impact of these things in the wild, there are too many concerns about what it opens up.You Need to Opt Out of Amazon Sidewalk
How to get off it
[32:10] You have two places to opt out of the Sidewalk. The Ring app and the Alexa app.Opting In and Out of Sidewalk – Ring Help
While Sidewalk isn’t active as a feature yet, you can already turn it off in the Amazon Alexa app. That switch is found at More > Settings > Account Settings > Amazon Sidewalk.
What about WFH
[36:30] Home networks are notorious for lacking security. If these are going on home networks where you are also working we need a Security Risk Analysis! Yes, requiring a risk analysis. Let’s discuss what that means by starting with the security whitepaper published by Amazon themselves.Amazon Sidewalk Privacy and Security Whitepaper
When these cool new things come out we always have to figure out how they can both help and hurt our security. Nothing like just plugging something in and turning it on without worrying about the security.
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