Press release: “CA today announced a new security survey of 642 large North American organizations which shows that more than 84% experienced a security incident over the past 12 months and that the number of breaches continues to rise. According to the findings, security breaches have increased 17% since 2003. As a result, 54% of… Continue Reading
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Category Archives: ID Theft
Profile of an Identity Thief
New York Times: Identity Thief Finds Easy Money Hard to Resist Continue Reading
Chronology of Data Breaches Reported Since the ChoicePoint Incident
From the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, A Chronology of Data Breaches Reported Since the ChoicePoint Incident, updated June 30, 2006. Breaches reported in June 2006 include the Nebraska Treasurer’s Office and the Minnesota Dept. of Revenue. Continue Reading
Thrift Savings Plan To Discontinue Use of Social Security Numbers For Accounts
Federal Times: “In a few months, the 3.6 million participants in the Thrift Savings Plan will begin using account numbers instead of Social Security numbers to access their retirement accounts. TSP administrators are switching to randomly generated account numbers to enhance security and protect participants’ Social Security numbers from being stolen, said Mark Hagerty, director… Continue Reading
Center for Identity Management and Information Protection
“Utica College’s Center for Identity Management and Information Protection is a research collaborative dedicated to furthering a national research agenda on identity management, information sharing, and data protection. Founded in June 2006, its ultimate goal is to impact policy, regulation, and legislation, working toward a more secure homeland.” Continue Reading
CDT Issues Spyware Enforcement Report
Press release: “CDT’s report charts the important cases against spyware distributors and identifies the statutes applied, June 26, 2006.” A Report by the Center on Democracy and Technology: Spyware Enforcement (16 pages, PDF) Continue Reading
Security Issues For Portable Devices Increase With Data Theft Reports
WSJ free feature: Laptop Lockdown – Companies Start Holding Employees Responsible for Security Of Portable Devices They Use for Work Postings on ID theft and cybercime Continue Reading
Data Security Act of 2006
Press release: “Sen. Bob Bennett (R-Utah) and Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE), members of the Senate Banking Committee, today introduced legislation to help protect individuals and businesses from the rampant crimes of identity theft and account fraud…The new bill requires that all entities such as financial institutions, universities, retailers and federal agencies safeguard sensitive information,… Continue Reading
FTC and Navy Notifiy Individuals of ID Theft
FTC press release: “The Commission today announced it is notifying approximately 110 individuals that two FTC laptop computers, one of which contained some of their personally identifiable information, were stolen from a locked vehicle. The FTC has no reason to believe the information on the laptops, as opposed to the laptops themselves, was the target… Continue Reading
Dept. of Agriculture Latest Victim of Data Breach
AP reported that a hacker obtained personal data on over 25,000 Agriculture Department employees. USDA Notifies Headquarters Employees Of Possible Personal Information Breach – Provides Free Credit Monitoring Services Related postings on ID Theft and cybercrime. Continue Reading
Industry Leaders Call For Federal Privacy Legislation
The Consumer Privacy Legislative Forum (whose members include Google, Microsoft, Oracle, EBay Inc., Hewlett-Packard Co., Intel Corp., Sun Microsystems Inc. and Symantec Corp.) issued a statement supporting “a serious process to consider comprehensive harmonized federal privacy legislation to create a simplified, uniform but flexible legal framework.” Google Official Blog: “On an Internet beset with spyware,… Continue Reading
According to GAO, VA Still Does Not Have Comprehensive Info Security Program
Following up on previous postings on the VA data breach, today the GAO issued yet another related report – Information Security: Leadership Needed to Address Weaknesses and Privacy Issues at Veterans Affairs, Full text GAO-06-897T, and Highlights, June 20, 2006. “For many years, significant concerns have been raised about VA’s information security–particularly its lack of… Continue Reading
