One might somewhat pessimistically insert “and is unlikely in 2015… and 2016… and…” Eric Chabrow reports on how despite its importance and the number of massive data breaches reported in the past year, a federal data breach notification law is unlikely to pass this year. No surprise there, as he notes the gap between what businesses…
Month: October 2014
Stop worrying about mastermind hackers. Start worrying about the IT guy.
Andrea Peterson and Craig Timberg report: Mistakes in setting up popular office software have sent information about millions of Americans spilling onto the Internet, including Social Security numbers of college students, the names of children in Texas and the ID numbers of intelligence officials who visited a port facility in Maryland. The security problem, researchers say,…
Pacific Grove police commander allowed wife to use police database to access identity information for ID theft
There’s an interesting – and messy – case that I covered over on PogoWasRight.org that I should also mention here because one of the charges against Kristin Nyunt involved identity theft. She was reportedly able to obtain her victims’ identity information because her then-husband, a Pacific Grove police Commander, allowed her to login to an…
If HHS doesn't take stronger action against insider data theft cases for tax refund fraud, will the FTC?
Last month, PHIprivacy.net raised the question as to why we have seen no monetary penalties or strong enforcement actions by either OCR or the FTC when it came to cases of insider data theft for tax refund fraud schemes. As I commented in that post: Insider data theft is a serious problem with serious consequences to patients….
Ebola Presents Significant Workplace Challenges
Joseph J. Lazzarotti writes: We addressed the dangers of “snooping” into patient records by hospital workers spurred by incidents of Ebola and Enterovirus D-86 in the U.S. Of course, the workplace challenges created by Ebola, Enterovirus D-86 and other contagious diseases and illnesses in the workplace go far beyond snooping, and far beyond healthcare employers. Employers in all industries are facing…
Five defendants charged in Florida tax refund fraud scheme
Look at where/how they allegedly obtained taxpayer identity information in the release below. October 15, 2014 TALLAHASSEE – Five defendants have been charged with conspiring to commit wire fraud in connection with the filing of false income tax returns. The 21-count indictment, unsealed today, also charges substantive counts of wire fraud, theft of government funds, and aggravated…