An email arrives from a referring dentist, laboratory, or colleague: “You have received an encrypted message.” Opening it may seem routine, but criminals can send convincing messages from compromised accounts. A familiar sender and a “secure” label do not guarantee safety.
Clicking the link could download a screen-sharing application instead of opening a document. Once launched, it can give criminals remote access to your computer, potentially allowing them to steal patient information, install malware, and attack other systems on your practice’s network. These attacks can also bypass firewall and antivirus detection.
Take a Technical Time-Out: pause, inspect, verify, and report. Were you expecting the document? Call the sender using a trusted number, not one provided in the email. Never run unexpected software to view a message. Report suspicious emails immediately, especially if you clicked a link or opened an application. That brief pause can protect your practice and patients.
