http://www.pogowasright.org/article.php?story=200809210730301
US Foodsservice data loss greater than originally thought
Sunday, September 21 2008 @ 07:30 AM EDT Contributed by: PrivacyNews
When a U.S. Foodservice laptop was stolen earlier this year, the company hired an unnamed "outside computer forensics expert" to help them determine whose data were on the stolen laptop. And on June 13, they, notified those affected -- some present and former USF employees, some of their dependents, and applicants for jobs at USF. Although the company had stopped using Social Security numbers in its internal reports several years ago, the laptop had contained old data files.
On September 3, USF notified the NH Attorney General that they "were recently informed after additional computer forensic work was performed that the laptop computer contained sensitive personnel information about a larger group of individuals than previously had been identified." and that additional notification letters were being sent out.
In its newest notification letter, the company writes:
We recently discovered that the external computer forensics expert had not searched the laptop for social security numbers that were contained in a non-standard format, such as including additional symbols, numbers or letters beyond the base nine digits. At our request, the vendor conducted extensive further forensic analysis, which resulted iII the identification of additional individuals whose data were contained in the laptop. We are sending this notification letter to you because you are in this group of individuals.
Pursuant to USF policies, the laptop was protected by a unique user lD and password, but the individual files containing personal information were not encrypted or password protected. At this point, we have no reason to believe that the Information on the laptop has been accessed or misused; however, we felt that it was very important to notify you about this incident.
As in its earlier disclosure, the firm did not indicate how the laptop was stolen or the total number of individuals affected.
...because...
http://www.pogowasright.org/article.php?story=20080922054933526
Data “Dysprotection:” breaches reported last week
Monday, September 22 2008 @ 05:49 AM EDT Contributed by: PrivacyNews
A recap of incidents or privacy breaches reported last week for those who enjoy shaking their head and muttering to themselves with their morning coffee.
Source - Chronicles of Dissent
Not every bank took great risks. Those who survive will not eat the losers...
http://www.bespacific.com/mt/archives/019379.html
September 21, 2008
Federal Reserve Board Approves Applications of Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley to Become Bank Holding Companies
News release: The Federal Reserve Board on Sunday approved, pending a statutory five-day antitrust waiting period, the applications of Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley to become bank holding companies. To provide increased liquidity support to these firms as they transition to managing their funding within a bank holding company structure, the Federal Reserve Board authorized the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to extend credit to the U.S. broker-dealer subsidiaries of Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley against all types of collateral that may be pledged at the Federal Reserve's primary credit facility for depository institutions or at the existing Primary Dealer Credit Facility (PDCF); the Federal Reserve has also made these collateral arrangements available to the broker-dealer subsidiary of Merrill Lynch. In addition, the Board also authorized the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to extend credit to the London-based broker-dealer subsidiaries of Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and Merrill Lynch against collateral that would be eligible to be pledged at the PDCF."
Related postings on financial system
90% of colleges can't use technology?
http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/09/21/1459214&from=rss
10 Percent of Colleges Check Applicants' Social Profiles
Posted by Soulskill on Sunday September 21, @11:58AM from the mood:-unsurprised dept. Privacy News
theodp writes
"Confirming paranoid high-schoolers' fears, a new Kaplan survey reveals that 10% of admissions officers from prestigious schools said they had peeked at sites like Facebook and MySpace to evaluate college-bound seniors. Of those using the profiles, 38% said it had a 'negative impact' on the applicant. 'Today's application is not just what you send ... but whatever they can Google about you,' said Kaplan's Jeff Olson. At Notre Dame, assistant provost for enrollment Dan Saracino said he and his staff sometimes come across candidates portraying themselves in a less-than-flattering light. 'It's typically inappropriate photos — like holding up a can of beer at a party,' Saracino said. On the other hand, using the Internet to vet someone's character seems overly intrusive to Northwestern's Christopher Watson. 'We consider Facebook and MySpace their personal space,' the dean of undergraduate admissions said. 'It would feel somewhat like an invasion of privacy.'"
We recently discussed similar practices from prospective employers.
Something for the Chem Majors to hack!
http://blog.wired.com/defense/2008/09/skunk-attack.html
Israel Unleashes First 'Skunk Bomb'
By David Hambling September 21, 2008 | 8:53:00 AM Categories: Bizarro, Chem-Bio, Less-letha
Possibly because of excitement over the Russia-Georgia conflict last month, little attention was given to a new development in chemical warfare – the first use by the Israeli police of a new, smelly weapon to disperse demonstrators:
Think you have political chops?
http://www.wired.com/gaming/gamingreviews/commentary/games/2008/09/gamesfrontiers_0922
The Game of Politics Is Ready for Its Upgrade
By Clive Thompson Email 8 hours ago
I won the White House for Barack Obama last week. And for John McCain, too!
I was playing The Political Machine 2008, this year's big sim-election title, and had a blast slinging mud and pandering. Playing as Obama, I stormed around the coasts, promising clean coal and running ads blasting McCain for supporting the war, and soon I was kicking back in the Oval Office. Playing as McCain, I played precisely the opposite cards in the red heartland, and won that race as well.
http://www.politicalmachine.com/
Political Machine 2008 Express Edition is a free demo for The Political Machine 2008. Download it now!
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