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Two articles worth reading from The Los Angeles Times (reg. req’d): from today’s paper, this one examines the remarkably straighforward, low-tech tools (including fax machines and Wite-out) and methods that have been successfully used to carry out ID theft scams. and from yesterday’s edition, Did ChoicePoint End Run Backfire? The data-collecting company has managed to …
From Wired, Pharming Out-Scams Phishing: “First Pharmers simply redirect as many users as possible from the legitimate commercial websites they’d intended to visit and lead them to malicious ones. The bogus sites, to which victims are redirected without their knowledge or consent, will likely look the same as a genuine site. But when users enter …
“Here at the Microsoft Security Response Center, we investigate thousands of security reports every year. In some cases, we find that a report describes a bona fide security vulnerability resulting from a flaw in one of our products; when this happens, we develop a patch as quickly as possible to correct the error. In other …
The US Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs will hold a hearing on Identity Theft: Recent Developments Involving the Security of Sensitive Consumer Information, 3/10/05, 2:30 PM. [Link]
The House Energy and Commerce Committee today approved, by 43-0 vote, the Antispyware bill, H.R. 29, The Securely Protect Yourself Against Cyber Trespass Act or the ‘SPY ACT’. An Amendment #1, offered by Mr. Stearns, was agreed to by voice vote.
Press release from the United States Attorney, Central District of California, March 7, 2005: “An Encino man who used personal information fraudulently obtained from ChoicePoint Service and other companies to commit identity theft against thousands of victims was sentenced today to 66 months in federal prison. Adedayo Benson, a 38-year-old Nigerian national, was sentenced this …
“The Federal Trade Commission today released a staff report summarizing the issues and drawing some conclusions from its April 2004 workshop, “Monitoring Software on Your PC: Spyware, Adware, and Other Software.” The report, a transcript of the day-long session, a list of participants and their presentations, and comments filed with the Commission, is available here.” …
From the Washington Post, New Industry Helping Banks Fight Back – Sleuths Hit Online Identity Thieves With ‘Takedowns,’ ‘Poisoning’. A patch-work of emerging technology applications are available targeted to financial services and e-commerce, seeking to address growing consumer concerns with e-mail and website fraud. This article reviews the challenges posed by phishing and the possibility …
Message to ChoicePoint users appears after login: “Dear Customer – Based on recent issues, we are taking a proactive stance on managing access to sensitive information. ChoicePoint is requesting an update of your user and account information and reducing your access to some data – until we process the update. Your account is still open …
As the citizens of additional states join the list of those eligable for free credit reports, problems associated with this program have been noted. The World Privacy Forum recently issued an extensive report documenting fraudulent activities that are complicating consumer access to the reports. In addition, the group reviews how use of the legitimate sites …
Press release: “Symantec has been granted U.S. patent number 6,851,057 for a system that enables the detection of complex viruses, worms, and spyware. The technology, “data driven detection of viruses,” is employed throughout Symantec’s portfolio of industry-leading information security solutions at the desktop, server, and gateway for both consumers and enterprises.”
Press release today from Sen. Patrick Leahy, co-founder and co-chairman of the Senate Internet Caucus, on the introduction of the Anti-Phishing Act of 2005 (S. 472). The release “includes the Senate Floor speech of Sen. Patrick Leahy introducing his bill to explicitly target Internet “phishing,” and “pharming” with new federal criminal penalties, and a fact …
