Jeremy Kirk: The UK’s National Health Service plans to make clearer the privacy policy of its Choices health information website, which shares browsing information with Facebook, following complaints from a security expert and a lawmaker, an NHS spokesman said Thursday. The NHS Choices website incorporates Facebook’s “Like” button, which enables users to share information they find…
Author: Dissent
DPA fines – why ICO got it right
Stewart Room writes about the first fines imposed by the U.K.’s Information Commissioner’s Office: I’ve heard two arguments that are critical of the ICO fines. They go something like this: (1) the fines were too low and (2) it’s wrong of ICO to fine a Local Authority when it didn’t fine Google. Let me try…
Former Sprint-Nextel employee sentenced for improper disclosure of phone records to cocaine dealer
Amy Quesnel, 29, of Georgia, Vermont was sentenced yesterday to six months imprisonment to be followed by four months of home detention. Quesnel had previously pled guilty to a violation of the Telephone Records Privacy Protection Act, which carries a maximum sentence of ten years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. U.S. Attorney Coffin stated that…
When in doubt, report
Sta-Home Health & Hospice in Mississippi reported a potential security breach to HHS this week. Because I could find no media coverage or other information on the incident online, I contacted them for additional information. According to a spokesperson with whom I spoke today, on the evening of September 15, their offices were burglarized…
NY: Ex-MCC student Terry Zimmerman says he stole others’ refunds to find HIV cure
Gary Craig reports: A 19-year-old former Monroe Community College student maintains he stole from other college students via identity theft because he wanted to find a cure for the AIDS virus, authorities allege. Rochester resident Terry Zimmerman, who assisted other MCC students with computer problems, used his access to steal their financial aid refunds, court…
Escrow Co. Sues Bank Over $440K Cyber Theft
Brian Krebs writes: An escrow firm in Missouri is suing its bank to recover $440,000 that organized cyber thieves stole in an online robbery earlier this year, claiming the bank’s reliance on passwords to secure high-dollar transactions failed to measure up to federal e-banking security guidelines. The attack against Springfield, Mo. based title insurance provider…