http://www.databreaches.net/?p=7590
Breach reports involving paper records increase – ITRC
October 1, 2009 by admin Filed under Commentaries and Analyses, Of Note, Paper
The Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) has released an interim report that reveals that breaches involving paper records appear to be increasing significantly compared to last year while the number of incidents involving electronic records has not showed a similar increase.
According to a press release today, paper breaches currently account for 25% of all breaches recorded in their 2009 database whereas for all of 2008, paper breaches accounted for 17.8%. In 2008, there were 116 paper breaches for the entire year, whereas as of September 30, there have already been 99 incidents recorded.
The business sector accounts for 35 of the 99 paper breaches recorded in their database, with the financial and education sectors recording the fewest paper breaches.
Because not all states require disclosure of, or notification of, paper breaches, it is impossible to estimate how prevalent paper breaches really are or whether what appears to be an increase might simply be an artifact of increased media coverage or public awareness.
Texas is one of a few states that aggressively deals with paper breaches. In August, Attorney General Greg Abbott announced a settlement with with Cornerstone Fitness over improper protection of paper records, and in 2008, he announced settlements with CVS, Radio Shack, CNG Financial Corp. and its subsidiaries, Check ‘n Go of Texas, Inc. and Southwestern & Pacific Specialty Finance, Inc. , GAB Robins, B&F Finance McAllen, L.L.C. , and filed an enforcement action against Nino Tax. Similarly, Indiana Attorney General Attorney Greg Zoeller announced a settlement with CVS and Walgreens chains over the fact that pharmacy records were found in bins behind stores. The FTC had settled its complaint against CVS over failure to secure medical and financial data the prior month.
Paper data breaches may present easier opportunities for identity thieves because the information is “ready to use” and may include signatures. A number of identify theft cases prosecuted within the past year have involved the theft of mail containing personal information that was then used for fraudulent purposes.
According to ITRC, it is critical that both state and federal governments recognize and convey the importance of regulating “best practices” protocols for paper document storage and disposal. ITRC recommends that new breach laws, and amendments to current laws, take into account paper breaches in a manner similar to statutes affecting electronic data breaches.
[The Press Release: http://www.idtheftcenter.org/artman2/publish/m_press/Breach_List_2009_Q3.shtml
Another area where paper is losing ground... (Start thinking of 'Process Servers' as a blade computer sitting next to the email server)
http://www.pogowasright.org/?p=4290
UK court orders writ to be served via Twitter
October 2, 2009 by Dissent Filed under Court, Featured Headlines, Internet, Non-U.S.
Britain’s High Court ordered its first injunction via Twitter on Thursday, saying the social website and micro-blogging service was the best way to reach an anonymous tweeter who had been impersonating someone.
Solicitors Griffin Law sought the injunction against the micro-blog page www.twitter.com/blaneysblarney arguing it was impersonating right-wing blogger Donal Blaney, the owner of Griffin Law.
[...]
Andre Walker at Griffin Law said the anonymous tweeter targeted by the writ will get a message from the High Court the next time they open their online account.
“Whoever they are, they will be told to stop posting, to remove previous posts and to identify themselves to the High Court via a web link form,” he said.
Read more on The Age.
Another Big Brother moment in the UK. Like the ads in “Minority Report,” the message is tailored to the viewer...
http://www.pogowasright.org/?p=4302
Drivers’ details sold by DVLA are used in roadside adverts for Castrol
October 2, 2009 by Dissent Filed under Breaches, Businesses, Featured Headlines, Govt, Non-U.S.
Christopher Leake reports:
The Government’s controversial Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has launched an investigation into how the car registrations of millions of motorists were sold for use by a giant oil firm.
Castrol spent hundreds of thousands of pounds on a campaign promoting its oils, using giant advertising billboards on five major routes in London.
[...]
Roadside cameras recorded number plates before flashing their registration on to screens and revealing the grade of oil recommended for use in the car’s engine.
[...]
The DVLA says it restricts the release of data chiefly to car parking enforcement companies, solicitors, finance firms and property companies – but insists that in every case the privacy of motorists is ‘properly safeguarded’.
However, the agency does sell data, including the registration number, engine size, year, make and model of individual cars, to a number of organisations, including five motor industry data providers.
This is used to ensure garages fit vehicles with the correct tyres, batteries and replacement parts. [Suggesting that manufacturers keep this information secret? Bob] But sources have admitted that in the Castrol campaign, the DVLA data was passed on by one of the five companies to a third-party contractor, which then used it in contravention of the ban on the use of registration numbers for marketing purposes.
Read more in The Mail.
Is anyone aware of this?
http://www.bespacific.com/mt/archives/022464.html
October 01, 2009
National Cybersecurity Awareness Month
National Cybersecurity Awareness Month: "October marks the sixth annual National Cybersecurity Awareness Month sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security. The theme for National Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2009 is “Our Shared Responsibility” to reinforce the message that all computer users, not just industry and government, have a responsibility to practice good “cyber hygiene” and to protect themselves and their families at home, at work and at school. Americans can follow a few simple steps to keep themselves safe online. By doing so, you will not only keep your personal assets and information secure but you will also help to improve the overall security of cyberspace."
Not gonna happen. This will die quickly as lobbyists point out that it will also kill political contributions...
http://www.pogowasright.org/?p=4269
Web Privacy Bill Could Come by November
October 1, 2009 by Dissent Filed under Internet, Legislation
Kate Kaye reports:
Privacy legislation affecting the online advertising industry could be submitted by November. According to statements made recently by Rep. Rick Boucher, who heads up the House Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet, a bill with bipartisan support could be introduced before Congress adjourns for its winter holiday break.
“We are making rapid progress and hope to have a bill introduced before recess,” Boucher said in an interview with beltway pub The Hill yesterday.
“The key elements [of the legislation] are going to be that every website will have to disclose every piece of information that they collect from visitors and how that information is used by the website that collects it. And then users should have control over that process,” added Boucher in the interview. Such information should be provided in “an easy-to-locate privacy policy,” suggested the Congressman in a separate article he wrote for the same publication, published last week.
Read more on ClickZ Thanks to Ryan Calo for this link.
Already dead... This happens when they threaten to use J. Edgar's files...
http://www.pogowasright.org/?p=4279
Lawmakers Cave to FBI in Patriot Act Debate
October 1, 2009 by Dissent Filed under Featured Headlines, Govt, Legislation, Surveillance, U.S.
David Kravets reports:
Powerful Senate leaders on Thursday bowed to FBI concerns that adding privacy protections to an expiring provision of the Patriot Act could jeopardize “ongoing” terror investigations.
The Patriot Act was adopted six weeks after the 2001 terror attacks, and greatly expanded the government’s power to intrude into the private lives of Americans in the course of anti-terror and criminal investigations. Three provisions are expiring at year’s end.
During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Sen. Patrick Leahy, the committee chairman, and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-California) introduced last-minute changes (.pdf) that would strip away some of the privacy protections Leahy had espoused just the week before. The Vermont Democrat said his own, original proposal of last week could jeopardize ongoing terror investigations.
Read more on Threat Level. And for EFF’s perspective on the developments, see Kevin Bankston’s live blogging entry here.
[From Threat Level:
“The biggest investigation since 9/11 is ongoing,” Feinstein said. ”My concern was that nothing we do here interfere with an investigation that is going on.”
[It would be most interesting to relate the Patriot Act to details of the “Denver shuttle bus driver” as they are released. What harm would the proposed amendments have caused? Bob]
I wonder how much they were willing to pay to keep this from going to trial?
DOJ: Proposed Settlement Reached in State Secrets Suit in D.C.
October 01, 2009
A tentative settlement has been reached in a long-running suit that alleges a former intelligence agent and a State Department official unlawfully eavesdropped on a DEA agent, potentially bringing the state secrets case to an abrupt close and sparing the Justice Department a loss on appeal.
Justice lawyers filed notices yesterday evening about the proposed settlement. The notices were filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, where the case is pending, and in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, where the case was filed in 1994.
… In August, Chief Judge Royce Lamberth of federal district court in D.C. ruled that the lawyers for both sides have a need to know the classified information that their clients have in their memories. Lamberth directed the Justice Department to grant security clearances to the private lawyers for the plaintiff and defendants. Click here for the opinion.
What happens when technology eats your homework...
Teen Wins $150K Over Amazon’s Kindle Clawback of Orwell E-Book
Posted Oct 1, 2009, 05:40 pm CDT By Martha Neil
What happens when you think you understand technology, but you don't.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-30686_3-10365952-266.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20
Is the iPhone hurting AT&T's brand?
by Marguerite Reardon October 2, 2009 4:00 AM PDT
Do we need this because HIPAA doesn't cover genetic privacy?
http://www.bespacific.com/mt/archives/022460.html
October 01, 2009
New Rules Protect Patients' Genetic Information
News release: "Individuals’ genetic information will have greater protections through new regulations issued today by the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor, and the Treasury. [Specifically the IRS??? Bob] The interim final rule will help ensure that genetic information is not used adversely in determining health care coverage and will encourage more individuals to participate in genetic testing, which can help better identify and prevent certain illnesses."
Politicians are going to hate this one.... Can we pay for your latest boondoggle?
http://www.bespacific.com/mt/archives/022461.html
October 01, 2009
FASAB Issues Requirements for Fiscal Sustainability Reporting
"One of FASAB’s federal financial reporting objectives—the stewardship objective—includes enabling readers to determine whether future budgetary resources will likely be sufficient to sustain public services and to meet obligations as they come due...the question of the long-term fiscal sustainability of U.S. government services may be among the most important questions of our time. The Board believes that fully meeting the stewardship objective requires non-traditional approaches to complement and enrich the information from the federal government’s balance sheets and operating statements. The objective of the required reporting is not only to provide information that is useful and necessary in assessing fiscal sustainability but also to effectively communicate the information in a way that is meaningful and understandable to readers. The required reporting will include information about projected trends in the federal budget deficit or surplus and the federal debt and how these amounts relate to the national economy. Most importantly, if an excess of projected spending over projected receipts is indicated by the projections, the required reporting will explain and illustrate the likely impact of delaying action - for example, the progressive increase in the change that would be needed by (1) reducing spending, or (2) increasing receipts."
Related postings on financial system
This might interest my Criminal Justice students
http://www.bespacific.com/mt/archives/022465.html
October 01, 2009
Department of Justice launches Justice.gov
"The Department of Justice launches Justice.gov today in an effort to increase openness and transparency in government. Utilizing a variety of online tools, we will be able to share news and information, not just on our own web site, but through popular social networks Twitter, YouTube and MySpace and Facebook. The Justice presence on these social networks will allow Americans to interact with the Department in entirely new ways. The new Justice.gov has incorporated more multimedia than ever before. You’ll find a photo gallery and video library that will be regularly updated with new content from across the Department of Justice. And of course, The Justice Blog will be a hub of information for the Department."
I didn't know the government would pay me to write a textbook. (Lots of comments)
New Bill Proposes Open Source Requirement for Publicly Funded Books
Posted by timothy on Thursday October 01, @02:08PM from the return-to-the-commonwealth dept.
fsufitch writes
"On September 30th, the 'Open College Textbook Act of 2009' was introduced to the Senate and referred to committee. The bill proposes that all educational materials published or produced using federal funds need to be published under open licenses. The reasoning behind it takes into account the changing way information is distributed because of the Internet, the high price of college and textbooks, and the dangerously low college graduation rates in the US. Will a bill such as this endanger publishing companies in the same way Internet journalism endangers traditional journalism?"
Newt talks Disaster. (Two minute video) Something for my Disaster Recovery class.
Newt Gingrich Warns of Electromagnetic Pulse Attack
Worth playing around with...
http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/09/30/weebly-launches-new-managed-product-for-educators-and-students/
Weebly Launches New Managed Site Builder For Educators And Students
by Jason Kincaid on September 30, 2009
School’s back in session, and Weebly
… Weebly is offering the product for free for teachers with up to 40 students, and then $1 per additional student account, purchased in packs of 10. Teachers can also sign up for Weebly Pro for $40/year, and all of the pro features extend to their students. There’s also a discount for teachers who refer each other.
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