Articles and Ideas December, 2008
Chris Wolf dislikes people taking his name in vain. He believes that many companies notify victims TOO SOON after a breach of security. Of course, he’s an attorney and head of the Proskauer Rose (Washington, D.C.) law firm’s privacy and security group, so he might have a little different take than the average Joe.
‘Never Cry Wolf’, Says Wolf!
In a recent interview with Wolf, he stated that breach notifications should be delayed until all the facts are in about what was lost and who was affected. The basic topic of discussion was the potential for a U.S. Federal breach notification law ...
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Little did many Christmas shoppers know that they were giving the gift of malware to their friends and loved ones this Christmas. However, a well known brand name carried corruption into their computer files even as they downloaded their favorite pictures!
Windows Vulnerable to ‘Attack of Photo Frame”
Windows XP has been the stronghold of many PC owners, who steadfastedly campaign for the version to be kept up and running with full support years after it should have given way to newer programs such as Vista. Unfortunately, a specifically aimed worm virus somehow included in many digital picture frames has targeted the ...
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From political moves to the romantic lives of Hollywood stars, predictions abound at the beginning of each new year.
But what about identity theft? Organizations such as the Identity Theft Assistance Center (ITAC), as well as professionals in the field of identity theft prevention, have a lot to say about what to look out for in 2009. We’ll outline a few potential ID theft pitfalls…and reveal what efforts are in the works toward a safer future.
New Information from ITAC
Spokespeople for the ITAC outlined the problems associated with identity theft and predicted it will continue into the new year, according ...
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It’s a nightmare scenario no family ever wants to face: 11-year-old Rebecca has been stricken by a rare form of cancer. Worse, Rebecca’s father, an aircraft rigging assembler, was laid off from his struggling company seven months ago.
The family makes do with seasonal work…when they can find it. Meanwhile, Rebecca, who loves horses, Hannah Montana and hopes to be a marine biologist one day, is getting worse.
But perhaps the biggest tragedy here is that Rebecca isn’t real.
Heart Strings and Computer Viruses
Shocked? Confused? A little angry? You should be. Social engineering involves manipulation of the emotions, like the sympathy you likely ...
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The far reaching effects of Katrina are still making themselves known. When the devastating hurricane hit new Orleans, thousands of people were displaced, and some went off the grids altogether - to reappear months later in other cities and states living under assumed identities.
Identity theft easy in face of disaster
The handling of such a catastrophe was going to be difficult, everyone knew, but just how vulnerable victims could be wasn’t driven home completely until last week, when FEMA revealed the names and social security numbers of more than 16,850 relocated individuals had been posted on two websites.
The SSNs, names and ...
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New Jersey state and government law enforcement officials have arrested four men in connection with a ring that stole millions from existing home equity lines of credit, The Washington Post has reported.
Even more frightening, three individuals pleaded guilty in Virginia to being co-conspirators to the New Jersey gang. $10 million may have been heisted by the group, authorities said.
Arrests Made Across the U.S.
Under arrest for this ongoing series of thefts are Derrick Polk, of Los Angeles; Oludola Okinmola of Brooklyn, NY; Oladeji Craig, also from Brooklyn; and Oluwajide Ogunbiyi of Springfield, IL.
The heists were global, with millions ...
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Those savvy in the internet world were stunned late last week when Microsoft broke their rule of releasing patches to their software on the second Tuesday of the month. The reason? Their latest version of Internet Explorer had been breached by hackers.
Microsoft's IE7 Breached
Malicious software aimed at a weak spot in IE7 hit several legitimate websites the first week of December, including a major internet portal in Taiwan. Trend Micro identified at least 10,000 websites infected with the software, which was slipped onto unprotected browsers and can be used by hackers to take control of infected computers, steal data, redirect ...
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Credit Ccards represent a fundamental aspect of today's economy, and as such, they come with all the risks and rewards of a digital age. People are able to shop online, make purchases over the phone, and buy items that are normally too expensive and pay them off later, and even build their credit. Credit cards have revolutionized the way consumers behave, and have made numerous tasks incredibly easy -- too easy, possibly.
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Identity theft typically rises around the holidays. Don’t get snowed by an identity thief this Christmas. We’ll give you safety tips to make your shopping experience merry, bright…and safe.
The Holidays are Prime ID Theft Time
With the holidays upon us once again, American consumers are being advised to “spend, spend, spend”. And it’s not greed alone that’s the motivating factor: economists insist that increasing the flow of cash in the U.S. is vital to the recovery most citizens have been hoping for.
But these efforts to jump-start a flagging economy are a veritable treasure trove in the eyes of criminals waiting to ...
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The problem of illegal immigrants becoming participants in identity theft is more widespread each year, and federal tax returns prove it.
Operation Number Games
Back in November, officials from both the Weld District Attorney’s Office and the Weld County Sheriff’s Office officially announced they were working together on Operation Number Games. This sting involved a sweep of more than 1,300 illegal immigrants who were suspected of using false or stolen Social Security numbers and identities.
The operation was set into motion when a local man got arrested for stealing a Social Security number. The man confessed that he had obtained the tax ...
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