Accurate, Focused Research on Law, Technology and Knowledge Discovery With Daily Postings Since 2002
Webroot Software released their State of Spyware Report today (free but requires registration), which states in part that “…the number of websites distributing spyware has quadrupled since the beginning of 2005 to an astonishing 300,000 unique URLs.” [press release] In addition, 80% of corporate computers are infected with malicious software, which can take the form …
From the Reconnex August Insider Threat Index: “Ninety-one percent of companies who completed a Reconnex 48-Hour e-Risk Assessment in the month of July had credit card numbers entering or leaving their network and eight-two percent exposed social security numbers. Most concerning was the amount of personal data including name and SSNs exposed directly in the …
Press release from RSA Security: “A survey released [yesterday]…showed that despite widespread fears of fraudulent activity and identity theft consumers are willing to increase the amount of personal business they do online if their banks and other online service providers offer them strong authentication.”
Press release from Unisys: “Survey results from Unisys Corporation launched [August 3, 2005] reveal that UK consumers’ apathetic attitude to fraud could be helping to perpetuate the rapidly growing identity theft industry, which is now estimated to be costing UK businesses £1.3 billion per year.”
IBM press release: “IBM reported that virus-laden emails and criminal driven security attacks increased by 50 percent in the first half of 2005 – underscored by a significant rise in ‘customized’ attacks on the government, financial services, manufacturing and healthcare industries. This substantial increase, along with a decrease in less profitable threats, such as spam …
The U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging held a hearing on July 27, Old Scams New Victims: Breaking The Cycle of Victimization. Link to member statements and witness testimony Related references: FTC Testimony: Identifying and Fighting Consumer Fraud Against Older Americans Fraud and Identity Theft Complaints Received by the Federal Trade Commission From Consumers …
On July 20, the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse updated their Chronology of Data Breaches Reported Since the ChoicePoint Incident, which have impacted more than 50 million individuals.
Press release from the Progress & Freedom Foundation: “Notification Doesn’t Benefit Consumers: State and Federal lawmakers should proceed with caution when considering notification legislation addressing the perceived growth of data security breaches, according to a new paper released by The Progress & Freedom Foundation. An Economic Analysis of Notification Requirements for Data Security Breaches (19 …
From WSJ free content, Information Security – Where the Dangers Are: The threats to information security that keep the experts up at night — and what businesses and consumers can do to protect themselves. See also Corrupted PC’s Find New Home in the Dumpster
As a follow-up to my December 12, 2003 posting, E-ZPass Technology, Law Enforcement and Privacy, see this article, A Pass on Privacy, from the Sunday New York Times Magazine: “The computer system to which you have surrendered your payment information also records data about your movements and habits. It can be hacked into.” Read on.
Press release: “A bipartisan coalition of Senate Commerce Committee leaders today introduced comprehensive legislation (The Identity Theft Protection Act, S.1408) that protects consumers from identity theft. The bill sets national standards for notifying consumers of data breaches, requires businesses to improve their safeguards for sensitive consumer information, gives consumers the right to freeze their credit …
From the U.S. Public Policy Committee of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), Data security & privacy bill part of a crowded Senate agenda (Part 1). Part 2, published July 13, 2005
