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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.”
Critical personal and professional data resident on the hard drives of PCs that have been sold, traded or stolen remains a significant problem with no easy remedy. According to this Times Online article which documents the range of sensitive data retrieved from the drives of major corporations and individuals alike, the only reliable means of …
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 …
From the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, this February 2005 update to their guide, Online Data Brokers: How Consumers Can Opt Out of Directory Assistance and Non-public Information, includes a chart detailing the specific procedure required by 17 free and fee-based websites and services which aggregate and provide access to a range of personal data. Take some …
What follows is a group of recent, relevant articles and documents associated with the escalating critical evaluation of database aggregation and sale of personal data and associated digital scams and ID theft. From the New York Times, Senator Says Data Service Has Lax Rules for Security From the Washington Post, Databases Called Lax With Personal …
AP reports that Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter, prompted by colleagues’ requests, has agreed to hold hearings on ID theft and possible regulation of the sale of personal data collected on American citizens. Also from AP, Tips for protecting your identity From ComputerWorld.com: “ChoicePoint’s error sparks talk of ID theft law – The company …
Press release: Leahy Calls For Hearings On Information Brokers That Are Emerging As Private Intelligence Agencies Tuesday, February 22, 2005: “The ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, a longtime champion of the publics privacy rights, says ChoicePoint’s sale of personal and financial records of thousands of Americans to con artists is a tripwire that …
ChoicePoint Victims Have Work Ahead, Eternal Vigilance Is Price of Credit Dodging some ID theft not so easy Hacking Attacks Rarely Made Public, Experts Say
Social Security Administration: Actions Needed to Strengthen Processes for Issuing Social Security Numbers to Children GAO-05-115, January 31, 2005, Highlights. “In fiscal year 2004, the Social Security Administration (SSA) issued about 4.2 million original Social Security numbers (SSN) and 2 million SSN replacement cards to U.S.-born children. Despite its narrowly intended purpose, today, young children …
By Chris Jay Hoofnagle, associate director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center, Putting Identity Theft on Ice: Freezing Credit Reports to Prevent Lending to Impostors. “This article argues that the third actor, credit granting institutions, are culpable for a large number of identity theft cases. Institutions enable identity theft by maintaining lax credit granting practices, …
From the Washington Post, ID Theft Scam Hits D.C. Area Residents From ChoicePoint: Update on Identity Fraud Notification, 02/21/2005. This announcement includes a chart with a state-by-state accounting of the current number of victims of this scam, addresses the company’s plan to participate in the investigation of the fraud, and its plans to “guard against …
From today’s Atlanta Journal Constitution, Checklist failed ChoicePoint: “Identity theft fallout may include litigation, access limits.” From the WSJ, via Detnews.com, ID fraud triggers scrutiny: Industry could face new rules following reported theft of personal data of up to 400,000 people. From AP, 38 AGs send open letter to ChoicePoint . See also the initial …
