Category «ID Theft»

Committee Report to Accompany the Data Accountability and Trust Act

“The Committee on Energy and Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (H.R. 4127) to protect consumers by requiring reasonable security policies and procedures to protect computerized data containing personal information, and to provide for nationwide notice in the event of a security breach, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with an amendment and …

Subjects: Congress, Cybercrime, ID Theft, Legislation, PC Security

FTC Settles Complaint With Company Over Lax Security of Consumer Data

FTC press release: “A title company that promised consumers it maintained “physical, electronic and procedural safeguards” to protect their confidential financial information, but tossed consumer home loan applications in an open dumpster, agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that its inadequate storage and disposal procedures for sensitive consumer information violated federal laws. The settlement …

Subjects: Cybercrime, ID Theft, PC Security, Privacy

Wide Range of Privacy and Security Issues Involving RFID Exposed As Use Grows

The RFID Hacking Underground, by Annalee Newitz: “They can steal your smartcard, lift your passport, jack your car, even clone the chip in your arm. And you won’t feel a thing. 5 tales from the RFID-hacking underground.” “RFID chips are everywhere – companies and labs use them as access keys, Prius owners use them to …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Cybercrime, Government Documents, ID Theft, Privacy

Market and Government Share Blame For Proliferation of ID Theft

Preventing Identity Theft and Data Security Breaches: The Problem With Regulation, by Clyde Wayne Crews and Brooke Oberwetter, Competitive Enterprise Institute, May 9, 2006 (24 pages, PDF) Executive Summary: “Numerous high-profile cyber-attacks have spawned intense calls for government intervention into information security practices. Tired of the many online threats—including identity theft, data security breaches, and …

Subjects: Congress, Cybercrime, ID Theft, Privacy

Strategies to Create and Manage A Corporate Info Security Policy

Building and Implmenting a Successful Information Security Policy, by John J. Pak, May 8, 2006 (25 pages, PDF). See also Current IT: Issues Survey Report, 2006 – Security and Identity Management edges out Funding IT as the top strategic challenge, while Disaster Recovery/Business Continuity reemerges. by Barbara I. Dewey, Peter B. DeBlois, and the EDUCAUSE …

Subjects: Cybercrime, E-Mail, ID Theft, PC Security

IRS Hearing on Privacy Standards and Sale of Taxpayer Data

The IRS held a public hearing today on proposed regs that will require taxpayers to specifically consent to the sale of their data as supplied to tax preparers. Proposed Regulation Proposed Consent and Warning Requirements Current Regulation Consumer Groups to Testify before the IRS on Plan to Weaken Taxpayer Privacy Rules Citing concerns about privacy …

Subjects: E-Government, Government Documents, ID Theft, Privacy

Anti-Spyware Coalition Publishes Guides for Consumers and Enterprise

Press release: The Anti-Spyware Coalition today released two new resources to help consumers and enterprises better protect themselves against spyware and unwanted adware…The coalition’s two new documents walk consumers and network operators through the steps they should be taking to protect their machines against adware, spyware and other malicious software.” Protecting Your Network: Mitigating Spyware …

Subjects: Cybercrime, ID Theft, Internet, Privacy

DOJ Report: Identity Theft, 2004

Press release: “An estimated 3.6 million households, or about 3 percent of all households in the nation, learned that they had been the victim of at least one type of identity theft during a six-month period in 2004, the Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) announced today. Forty-eight percent had experienced an unauthorized use …

Subjects: Cybercrime, E-Government, E-Mail, ID Theft, Internet, Privacy

GAO Identifies Security Gaps in Use of Social Security Numbers and Recommends Remedies

Social Security Numbers: More Could be Done to Protect SSNs, Full text GAO-06-586T, and Highlights. March 30, 2006. “There is no one law that comprehensively regulates SSN use and protections…GAO found that there were gaps in the practices for protecting SSNs within government agencies and across industry sectors, such as a lack of uniformity at …

Subjects: Congress, Cybercrime, E-Government, Government Documents, ID Theft, Privacy

Data Accountability and Trust Act Unanimously Approved by House Cmte.

Press release: “The House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously approved new data security laws Wednesday that will ensure consumers’ personal information is closely guarded and consumers are notified when they are at risk…The bill places new requirements on specific companies that specialize in collecting personal data. These “data brokers” will be required to implement effective …

Subjects: Congress, E-Commerce, ID Theft, Legislation, Privacy