Many readers of this blog will be familiar with the stringent protections which the Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA) affords in respect of personal health data (see further the definition of ‘sensitive personal data’ in s. 2 DPA). Thus, for example, if a data controller wishes to avoid contravening the first data protection principle (the…
Author: Dissent
FTC Approves Final Order Settling Charges that Rite Aid Failed to Protect Medical and Financial Privacy of Customers and Employees
Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a final order settling charges against Rite Aid Corporation, and sent letters to members of the public who submitted comments on the order. The FTC charged that the company failed to protect the sensitive financial and medical information of its customers and employees. The…
IL: Area banks hit by ID theft
Sanford J. Schmidt reports: EDWARDSVILLE – An identity thief apparently has stolen credit card or debit card numbers from customers at some local banks and bilked the banks out of between $5,000 and $8,000, the Madison County Sheriff’s Department said Monday. […] The deputy said he could not reveal the names of the banks, but…
Former UCM students indicted for scheme to sell stolen information
David Twiddy reports: Two former University of Central Missouri students have been charged with stealing the identities of thousands of their classmates and faculty with the goal of the information. A federal grand jury in Kansas City indicted Joseph A. Camp, 26, of New York, and Daniel J. Fowler, 21, of Kansas City, with conspiracy,…
(follow-up) Newark man sentenced for numerous identity thefts
As a follow-up to a case previously reported here: A federal judge has sentenced a Newark man to 12 years in prison for stealing dozens of identities and using the information to open credit cards and set up fake businesses. Operating from a Newark apartment and several other addresses, Joseph Aughenbaugh, 42, and co-defendent Todd…
UK: Computer hacker controlled victims' webcams from mother's front room
A computer hacker accessed highly personal data and controlled victims’ webcams as part of a sophisticated email scam carried out from his mother’s front room. Matthew Anderson, 33, was a key member of an international gang, abusing his skills as a computer security expert to target businesses and individuals with spam containing hidden viruses, a…