Nick Perry of The Seattle Times reports that 6,000 University of Washington employees were notified last week that their names and Social Security numbers were on a computer system that was hacked. At least two parking-management computer servers were hacked starting around Dec. 6 last year. The university recognized that the servers had been compromised…
Author: Dissent
Bits ‘n Pieces
In the justice system: Charles McLaurin was sentenced to nearly eight years in prison for ID theft, a month after he slipped away during a break at his initial sentencing hearing. More. In the UK, the case against PC Anna Wong of the Lothian and Borders Force has been continued again without plea at Edinburgh…
IN: Goshen attorney dumps client files in the trash
Justin Leighty of The Elkhart Truth reports that confidential client files from attorney Joe Lehman’s office were just dumped in the trash. The files contained personal and financial information, and were disposed of during a move the office was making. What’s somewhat dumbfounding is that the attorney claimed he didn’t know that there was any…
Calif. agency probes snooping of octuplet mom’s medical records
Rebecca Vesely reports: The California Department of Public Health has launched an investigation into Kaiser Permanente Bellflower (Calif.) Medical Center after nearly two dozen employees peeked at medical records of Nadya Suleman, who gave birth to octuplets at the facility in January. “This is an issue that is quickly evolving for us,†said Al Lundeen,…
NZ: Privacy authority joins inquiry
Janine Rankin reports: The Privacy Commission will investigate how schools released schoolgirls’ contact details as part of the HPV (human papilloma virus) vaccination programme. The programme’s planned to continue next year to reach another three year groups, and in future will be routine for Year 8s. Assistant privacy commissioner Katrine Evans said getting the process…
Ohio University Closes Door on Breach Saga With $90,000 Settlement
Steve Kolowich reports: Ohio University has settled a lawsuit with two former information-technology administrators, paying them a total of $90,000 because the university improperly failed to disclose some records related to an investigation of a data breach three years ago. Thus concludes a saga fraught with litigation, finger-pointing, and the perils of technology. Read more…