Another firm that didn't know they were hacked, can't tell if the data was downloaded, and still wants you to trust them with your retirement savings...
http://www.databreaches.net/?p=19923
Widespread malware attack affects some Ascensus clients
Ascensus Inc. notified the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office this week that on April 15, they were notified by federal investigators that computers on their network had been infected by a “new malware virus” that had infected a lot of companies’ computers. A forensic examination revealed that the malware had created files containing some individuals’ names and Social Security Numbers, but it was not clear to investigators whether the data had actually been accessed.
Letters to those affected were to have gone out on July 28, so if you have an IRA administered by Ascensus, you might want to check for mail from them.

(Related) So, this should come as no surprise...
http://www.bespacific.com/mt/archives/027908.html
July 31, 2011
Pew - Safe Checking in the Electronic Age
"The Safe Checking in the Electronic Age Project aims to restore transparency, fairness, responsibility and free market principles to one of the most common consumer financial products — the checking account. The campaign will promote policies to revise and update consumer banking regulations to: Reflect current technology; Eliminate abusive industry practices that have arisen in regulatory gaps; Provide the public with information and choices that promote responsible checking account management in the age of electronic banking."
Checking Account Customers Support Stronger Banking Regulations, Pew-Commissioned Poll Finds


Suspicions confirmed! Congress is full of Twits!
http://www.bespacific.com/mt/archives/027910.html
July 31, 2011
The U.S. Congressional Twitter Directory
Via FearLess: "...Earlier this week, President Obama called on Americans to reach out to Congress regarding the debt-ceiling debacle. And a lot of people made their voices heard. The day after Obama's televised speech, the Capitol's switchboard was overwhelmed with 40,000 calls per hour and email traffic swamped congressional servers to a near halt. We searched online for an official Twitter directory for the United States Congress, but we couldn't find an updated and easy-to-use directory that contained links to Congressional members' Twitter handles. So we rolled up our sleeves and built the damn thing ourselves.  Below you will find an alphabetical list of states with names of U.S. Congressmen and women. Each name links to the elected official's Twitter page. It's simple and efficient. Which makes it the complete opposite of Congress' ability to reach a compromise."


Dilbert reminds me that when my Computer Security students first look at the Standards, this is what they must see...
http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2011-08-01/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+dilbert%2Fdaily_strip+%28Dilbert+Daily+Strip+-+UU%29