Yet another report today about the theft of a laptop from the home of a government employee, this time involving info on D.C. government personnel. The issue of why so many institutions have not implemented proper security measures, such as encryption on digital media removed from the office, remains baffling. Continue Reading
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Category Archives: ID Theft
Quartet of ID Theft Bills Introduced in Congress This Week
S. 3506 – A bill to prohibit the unauthorized removal or use of personal information contained in a database owned, operated, or maintained by the Federal government. Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 6/13/2006) S. 3514 – A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to restrict the public display on the Internet… Continue Reading
Clinton Calls for Privacy Bill of Rights
Press release: “In a major policy address on the challenges of privacy in our increasingly data driven world, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton called for a comprehensive privacy agenda: a Privacy Bill of Rights that secures the interests of consumers; stronger, better enforced protection for medical privacy and a new national security consensus setting out clear… Continue Reading
Continued Warnings About Use of Social Security Numbers and Rise of ID Theft
Follow-up to recent postings VA ID theft and the continuous reports on government and corporate enterprise data breaches, see this Gartner press release: Gartner Says Rash of Personal Data Thefts Shows Social Security Numbers Can No Longer Be Sole Proof of Identity for Enterprises. According to Gartner VP Avivah Litan, “Companies should not rely on… Continue Reading
VA's Information Security Weaknesses Highlighted in GAO Report and Hearings
Related to previous postings on the recent breach of Veterans’ data that was the focus of press and Congressional scrutiny, from GAO today, this report – Veterans Affairs: Leadership Needed to Address Information Security Weaknesses and Privacy Issues, full-text GAO-06-866T, and Highlights, June 14, 2006. From the report: “For many years, significant concerns have been… Continue Reading
Consumer Efforts to Ward Off Span and Spyware Still Fall Short
WSJ free feature: Seeking a Safer Internet – New Tools Flag Sites With Spyware, Spam – But the Technology Is Far From Perfect Continue Reading
NY Governor Signs Legislation to Protect New Yorkers Against ID Theft
Press release, June 9, 2006: “Governor George E. Pataki today signed three bills [Security Freeze Law, Disposal of Personal Records Law, Anti-Phishing Act of 2006] that will further protect New York’s consumers and their privacy. These bills will allow consumers to proactively defend themselves against identity thieves, require businesses to properly discard documents and records… Continue Reading
Hearings Examine Repeated Data Breaches at Federal Agencies
Government Reform Committee Oversight Hearing, “Once More Into the Data Breach: The Security of Personal Information at Federal Agencies,” June 8, 2006. “The data loss at VA is the largest by a federal agency to date, and the latest in a long string of personal information breaches in the public and private sectors, including financial… Continue Reading
New ID Theft Notification Law Takes Effect in Indiana
Indiana House House Bill 1101 (HB 1101) which takes effect July 1, will “require disclosure of security breaches and encryption of data by companies holding customers’ and clients’ personal identification information in computer databases if it could cause identity theft, identity deception, or fraud.” Press release from Indiana Attorney General Steve Carter, May 31, 2006:… Continue Reading
VA Data Breach Far More Extensive Than Previously Revealed
Follow-up to postings on breach of veterans data, this press release from Sen. Patrick Leahy comments on the announcement that “the Social Security numbers and other personal information for as many as 2.2 million U.S. military personnel including nearly 80 percent of our active-duty force — were among the data the VA has lost.”… Continue Reading
New Hampshire Enacts ID Theft Law
Press release, May 31, 2006: “Gov. Lynch today signed Senate Bill 334, which will allows victims of identity theft to ask their credit reporting agency for a “credit freeze.” Once they do, their credit reports cannot be forwarded without their consent or involvement, which will help prevent identity thieves from using people’s good credit against… Continue Reading
Recent Breach of Veterans’ Data Generates More Fraud
Another follow-up to postings and resources for veterans impacted by recent data breach: “The FTC is advising veterans and their families to keep a close hold on their credit card numbers, bank account information, Social Security numbers, passwords, and other sensitive personal information. One technique scammers use to get this information is phishing: they send… Continue Reading
