Tuesday Morning News Kick Off: ‘Massive’ World Cup Data Breach, Sprint Employees Cause $15 Million Data Breach and More
Welcome to what is normally the Monday Morning News Kick Off post on a post-holiday weekend Tuesday. We hope everyone is rested up and ready for another work week. As always, we have compiled all the key identity theft, data breach and cyber security stories you need to jump start the week. And, we urge our readers to stay tuned for more of our “Best Person” and “Worst Person” posts — where we aim to enlighten and entertain all in one. Happy Tuesday!
Investigators Reveal ‘Massive’ World Cup Data Breach It should come as no surprise to any football fan with even a passing contempt for the game’s governing body that FIFA have yet again dropped a sizeable bollock, a bollock that stands a very good chance of ruining many innocent supporters’ lives. News has broken this morning that a database containing the personal details of hundreds-of-thousands of football fans that purchased World Cup tickets through official FIFA-sanctioned outlets has been stolen and incrementally sold on. The information h
Dealing with Online Harassment
I was watching Back to the Future II with a little person in my life and thought how funny it was that every time McFly was called a chicken he would accept the challenge and throw up his dukes. Maybe it’s funny to me because I’m kind of like McFly. When someone tosses out an insult or a challenge or baits me, my teeth come out and I’m ready for battle. I can’t help myself; I’m half Italian American and half German shepherd (and I’m not sure which half is worse). Constructive feedback is one thing, but insults and attacking me is another.
I think most people at some level have a hard time with being mocked or personally castigated online or on the ground. My mom used to say if you ignore them they will eventually go away. There is truth to that but it is easier said than done. Today’s advice might be to R.I.D yourself of the perp. That’s Report-Ignore-Delete.
Social networks are a minefield of messy comments and accusations that can invade your personal security. Anyone can set up
Heartland and Discover Agree to $5 Million Data Breach Settlement
In the latest aftershock to a massive data breach that took place in 2008, card payment processor Heartland Payment Systems yesterday announced a settlement agreement with Discover Financial Services in which Heartland will pay Discover $5 million.
The drama began Jan. 20, 2009 (coincidentally, the day of President Obama’s inauguration), when Heartland announced that malicious software had compromised its data the year before. Visa and MasterCard had alerted the payment processor of suspicious activity on some of its card transactions. Data exposed through the breach included card numbers, expiration dates, and in some cases, the names of customers who used debit or credit cards at Heartland’s network of 250,000 businesses.
In August 2009, the hackers who perpetrated the data breach, American Albert Gonzalez and two Russian accomplices, were indicted in federal district court in New Jersey on charges that they carried out the largest hacking and identity-theft caper in U.S. his
22,000 Delaware Retirees Social Security Numbers Exposed
Around 22,000 Social Security numbers of Delaware state government retirees have been inadvertently posted online by a government contractor.
Aon Consulting included the Social Security numbers, gender and birthdates of about 22,000 Delaware state government retirees in a request for proposals for insurance companies interested in providing vision coverage to employees and retirees. Retirees affected included teachers, state police and the judiciary.
That information was posted on the state’s procurement website, a mistake that went undetected for from August 16th to August 20th. The information was taken down once it was discovered.
Aon is a multinational corporation with offices in more than 120 countries.
Insurers need age and other information on the pool of people to be covered in order to prepare a bid, Aon Consulting spokesman Joe Micucci said Monday. He said that is normally done by using a random series of digits assigned to individuals to shield their identity, not their Social Security numbers.
However, “the information that should have been randomized was not,” Micucci said.
Letters are being sent to affected individuals who will be offered one year of free credit monitoring. The company also will provide the retirees information on the steps needed to place a fraud alert on their files.
Hurricane Earl Evacuators Taking Precautions Against Identity Theft?
While hurricane season has not yet officially kicked off, this has not stopped Hurricane Earl, a category 4 storm that is barreling right towards the North Carolina coast as we write this post. As a result hurricane and tropical storm warnings and watches are in effect along the Mid-Atlantic coast and as far north as Massachusetts, and evacuations have already started in areas of the East Coast.
While many of the evacuators may have taken steps to protect their valuables, it is uncertain at this time as to what steps they have taken to avoid becoming victims of identity theft — which can happen very easily during a hurricane evacuation.
Laura D’Alisera, a mitigation and recovery planner with the city of Jacksonville Emergency Preparedness Division, Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department, recently told TMCNet that: “Identity theft is a reality,” said D’Alisera. “Safeguar