There’s a follow-up to a case previously reported on PHIprivacy.net and on this site. From the U.S. Department of Justice: Alabama and Georgia residents pleaded guilty for their roles in a $20 million stolen identity refund fraud (SIRF) conspiracy, Acting Assistant Attorney General Caroline D. Ciraolo of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney George…
Month: April 2015
Fourth Member of International Computer Hacking Ring Pleads Guilty to Hacking and Intellectual Property Theft Conspiracy
A fourth member of an international computer hacking ring has pleaded guilty to conspiring to break into computer networks of prominent technology companies to steal more than $100 million in intellectual property and other proprietary data. Austin Alcala, 19, of McCordsville, Indiana, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit computer intrusions and criminal copyright infringement based…
Hackers attack the energy industry with malware designed for snooping
Robert Hackett reports: Hackers have been targeting energy industry workers with malicious emails containing malware that, when opened, leave the recipients vulnerable to snooping, software security giant Symantec reported Monday. The campaign has primarily targeted Middle Eastern countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. But it has also afflicted other nations as well,…
UK: Policeman handed absolute discharge for breaching data protection act
Rebecca Buchan reports: A policeman who searched his work computer database for restricted information about his sisters has been handed an absolute discharge. During the course of one day, Keith Knowles accessed seven crime files while at work at Woodhill House, Westburn Road. The documents – relating to his siblings Lynn Robertson and Veronica Knowles…
MD: Data Breach at Westland Middle School Releases Student Locker Combinations
From the locker-numbers-today-grades-tomorrow dept.: Krista Brick reports: Information technology professionals are trying to determine today how students were able to access a secured computer file at Bethesda’s Westland Middle School and distribute the names, locker numbers and locker combinations for that school’s 1,400 lockers. Montgomery County Public School’s Westland Principal Alison Serino told MyMCMedia Wednesday that…
Hacked uni’s admins hand ID theft prevention reward to data burglars
I wish this was an April Fools’ Day prank, but it’s not. Alexander J. Martin reports that Bradley University’s response to their recent breach may just have made things worse for their employees. Keep in mind as you read the following that the breach involved Social Security numbers: The private institution then attempted to mitigate…