Hilary Matheson reports: Bigfork School District will not submit to ransom demands after the district’s computer network was compromised over the weekend by ransomware. Information technology staff have been working to recover computer files and remove the malicious software, which encrypted and locked files from being opened. It’s often the case that ransomware is not…
Month: November 2016
Report holds Hitachi responsible for debit card data theft
It looks like I missed a breach report in October involving Hitachi Payment Systems, who initially denied any breach of their system. But now Nupur Anand reports that an interim forensics report has found that there was, in fact, a compromise involving malware: …. The breach is said to have occurred because there was malware…
Data manipulation heralds a new era of hacking
Here’s one of the nightmares I’ve occasionally had over the past two years: a healthcare entity gets hacked, but instead of patient data being stolen, it’s corrupted, leading to inaccurate patient medical records that result in wrong treatment or even fatal mistakes. Has it already happened? Data corruption is a risk that has always been mentioned in…
18-Year-Old “Computer Genius” Charged with Launching DDoS Attacks
Catalin Cimpanu reports: US authorities charged Michaela Gabriella King, 18, of Murrysville, Pennsylvania with launching multiple DDoS attacks against Franklin Regional High School, the school she was attending. According to investigators, King used the BetaBooter DDoS stressor to launch DDoS attacks on her’s school’s network, from her home computer, her mobile phone, but most of…
Victoria Gardens Verizon Wireless store focus of ID theft ring investigation
Doug Saunders reports: A domestic violence investigation uncovered a large ID Theft ring working out of the Victoria Gardens Verizon Wireless store, sheriff’s officials announced Wednesday. Chino Hills deputies responded to a domestic violence incident Sept. 27 involving Daniel Henry Mitchell, 39, of Chino Hills. As deputies searched Mitchell’s car they found blank credit cards,…
Paytm suspends ‘App POS’ on data security concerns
PTI reports: Mobile wallet company Paytm has suspended its app that allowed small shopkeepers to accept payment through cards amid ongoing cash crunch, citing risks to customer data and privacy. The new feature was designed to eliminate the need for a physical point-of-sale (PoS) terminal or a card swipe machine, instead helping small shopkeepers use their smartphones…