In response to the increasing volume of network traffic and the growing sophistication of cyber threats, this study examines the use of deep learning-based intrusion detection systems (IDSs) in large-scale network environments. Traditional IDS face challenges such as high false positive rates, complex feature engineering, and class imbalances in datasets, all of which impede accurate threat detection. To overcome these limitations, we implement various deep learning models, including multilayer perceptron (MLP), convolutional neural network (CNN), and long short-term memory (LSTM), alongside traditional machine learning algorithms such as logistic regression, naive Bayes, random forest, K-nearest neighbors, and decision trees. A significant contribution of this study is the application of the synthetic minority over-sampling technique (SMOTE) to address class imbalance, enhancing the representativeness of the learning process. Additionally, we conduct a comprehensive performance comparison of the models, incorporating correlation-based feature selection and hyperparameter tuning to maximize detection accuracy. Our results indicate that deep learning models, particularly CNN and LSTM, outperform traditional machine learning approaches in cyber threat detection, achieving accuracy rates of 98%. However, random forest achieves the highest accuracy at 99.9%, demonstrating its effectiveness in structured intrusion detection tasks. Moreover, we evaluate computational efficiency and practical deployment considerations, discussing trade-offs between accuracy and resource consumption. These findings highlight the potential of deep learning-based IDS for large-scale network security applications while addressing key challenges such as interpretability and computational overhead. The study provides actionable insights for selecting the most suitable IDS models based on specific network environments and security requirements.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to conduct a scoping review of publications that explored blockchain technology in the context of interoperability and challenges of electronic health record (EHR) implementations. We synthesize the literature regarding standards and security, specifically regulation, regulatory operability, and conformance to standards. We review open practitioner questions that were not addressed in the studies as directions for further research. Materials and Methods: We conducted a literature search in the OVID databases (Medline and Embase) on terms blockchain, implementation, interoperability, EHRs, security, and standards. The search resulted in 152 nonduplicate, peer-reviewed manuscripts, of which 15 were relevant to our objective and included for synthesis. Results: Based on the search results, we analyzed the adoption of blockchain technology in the healthcare systems and challenges to EHR implementation of blockchain. From the synthesized research, we categorized and reported compelling factors of blockchain for EHR integration using current knowledge on blockchain research standardization and architectural challenges. Discussion: Our research showed promise in implementing blockchain technology associated with EHRs, especially with Health Information Exchanges. The studies relevant for both EHR (n = 5) and blockchain (n = 10) reported compelling factors and limitations of the architecture. Security (n = 4) and interoperability (n = 4) features were reported as compelling requirements with lingering challenges. Standardization literature (n = 3) reported implementation challenges. Conclusion: This study shows promise in implementing blockchain technology within EHR systems. The adoption is increasing; however, multiple implementation challenges remain from architectural perspectives (eg, scalability and performance), to security challenges (eg, legal requirements), and standard perspectives including patient-matching problems.

Background: Mobile health (mHealth) apps have facilitated symptom monitoring of COVID-19 symptoms globally and have been used to share data with health care professionals and support disease prediction, prevention, management, diagnostics, and improvements in treatments and patient education. Objective: The aim of this review is to evaluate the quality and functionality of COVID-19 mHealth apps that support tracking acute and long-term symptoms of COVID-19. Methods: We systematically reviewed commercially available mHealth apps for COVID-19 symptom monitoring by searching Google Play and Apple iTunes using search terms such as “COVID-19,” “Coronavirus,” and “COVID-19 and symptoms.” All apps underwent three rounds of screening. The final apps were independently assessed using the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS), an informatics functionality scoring system, and the Center for Disease Control and World Health Organization symptom guidelines. The MARS is a 19-item standardized tool to evaluate the quality of mHealth apps on engagement, functionality, aesthetics, and information quality. Functionality was quantified across the following criteria: inform, instruct, record (collect, share, evaluate, and intervene), display, guide, remind or alert, and communicate. Interrater reliability between the reviewers was calculated. Results: A total of 1017 mobile apps were reviewed, and 20 (2%) met the inclusion criteria. The majority of the 20 included apps (n=18, 90%) were designed to track acute COVID-19 symptoms, and only 2 (10%) addressed long-term symptoms. Overall, the apps scored high on quality, with an overall MARS rating of 3.89 out of 5, and the highest domain score for functionality (4.2). The most common functionality among all apps was the instruct function (n=19, 95%). The most common symptoms included in the apps for tracking were fever and dry cough (n=18, 90%), aches and pains (n=17, 85%), difficulty breathing (n=17, 85%), tiredness, sore throat, headache, loss of taste or smell (n=16, 80%), and diarrhea (n=15, 75%). Only 2 (10%) apps specifically tracked long-term symptoms of COVID-19. The top 4 rated apps overall were state-specific apps developed and deployed for public use. Conclusions: Overall, mHealth apps designed to monitor symptoms of COVID-19 were of high quality, but the majority of apps focused almost exclusively on acute symptoms. Future apps should also incorporate monitoring long-term symptoms of COVID-19 and evidence-based educational materials; they should also include a feature that would allow patients to communicate their symptoms to specific caregivers or their own health care team. App developers should also follow updated technical and clinical guidelines from the Center for Disease Control and the World Health Organization.

 Managing healthcare organizational cybersecurity risk is complex. This work examines government reported patient health data breaches to learn more about trends in reported breaches to inform organizational risk budgeting, trends and focus areas. In many cases, organizations only have enough time to survive daily risk management activities. They all too often have little, if any, time for actual risk management research beyond third-party vendor threat intelligence. Our research fills this gap by analyzing the breach data reported to the United States (US) Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Civil Rights (OCR) from May 1, 2018 until May 1, 2019. The analysis reports on trends from breach factors reported to the government to further inform cybersecurity patient health data risk management.

Access control is the process of protecting resources by allowing or rejecting access to particular resources. It is an integral part of physical security systems and protects resources from unauthorized use. Over the past decade, there has been a huge demand and need for more sophisticated and secure access technologies. Scientists are developing cutting edge technologies to fulfill the requirements for secure access control experiences. Access control systems, using the latest biometric technologies such as fingerprint, facial recognition, iris recognition, DNA, and signature recognition have offered a higher level of security than the conventional systems. Biometrics plays a vital role in the identification and authentication phase of access control. Every biometric system has weaknesses and benefits. The system success depends on selecting the proper type of biometric modality to use and understanding how it affects system performance, cost, and limitations. Fingerprint holds the first place according to its popularity but facial recognition and iris recognition continue to grow for its accuracy and are considered as the future of biometric recognition. Besides biometric technology, other future possibilities for secure access control are- mobile access control, cloud-based security, and multi-factor authentication. This paper presents access control components, functions, and types. The aim of the paper is to discuss and analyze the latest biometric access control to secure sensitive information. This paper also provides an overview of access control, discusses the latest biometric technology, and presents the future trend of access control.