Karina Brown reports: A class action claims Fox Entertainment Group hacked into millions of computers to install “rogue, cookie-like tracking code” to snoop on people who visit Fox’s “American Idol” website. The class claims Fox and Clearspring Technologies committed crimes, circumvented privacy settings, and that the rogue devices reinstall themselves even if their victims can…
Author: Dissent
Report: RBS WorldPay Hacker Gets Four Years’ Probation
Robert McMillan reports: The mastermind behind one of the biggest hacking paydays in history has been sentenced to four years’ probation and an US$8.9 million fine, according to published reports. Victor Pleshchuk, 28, was sentenced to four years’ probation on Wednesday, according to Bloomberg News. He is considered the leader of a group of criminals who…
Porn, Privacy, HIPAA – Redux
Attorney Michael Fattorosi writes: In February, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation took their fight against AIM and the adult industry to the authorities of the federal Office for Civil Rights, a federal agency under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that enforces HIPAA, the California Office of Health Information Integrity enforcement Unit and Los…
Ca: Doctors should tell police when they suspect a crime, drug report recommends
And yet another really bad idea…. tin star badges for doctors. It’s an intrusion on doctor-patient confidentiality and as I’ve written in the past, I’m firmly opposed to it. That a physicians’ group is the one proposing it is particularly unsettling. Allison Jones reports: Ontario’s doctors should be legally required to tell police when they…
The emotional impact of cybercrime
A new study by Norton reveals the staggering prevalence of cybercrime: 65% of Internet users globally, and 73% of U.S. Web surfers have fallen victim to cybercrimes, including computer viruses, online credit card fraud and identity theft. As the most victimized nations, America ranks third, after China (83%) and Brazil and India (76%). The first…
UK police officer fined over privacy breach
Looks like another UK police officer has been disciplined for violating data protection laws by snooping. The Jersey Evening Post reports that Paul Byrne misused the force’s database to look up the address of a woman who is dating his girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend. He was fined £300 by the Magistrate’s Court and could face further…