Internet protection basics for the medical office.

The increasingly frequent invasion of new computer viruses--some 500 new ones are discovered each month--has wreaked havoc in many large network systems. Medical office computers are vulnerable as well to significant corruption of files and interruption of access to important data. This article outlines basic steps that practices can follow to assure some minimum level of security. These include the importation and continuing use of scanning technologies and adherence to staff in-office protocols.