Update: Post-publication, the Virtue Center web site was taken offline and has not returned as of December 23. An undated entry on another site lists Shakil Islam and Faizan Sattar as “former employers” of VC. At the time of publication, however, they were listed on VC’s web site as part of their team. Follow-up e-mail…
Category: U.S.
The Weakest Link in Banks’ Fight Against Hackers
Robin Sidel reports: Terrified by a string of recent hacks, banks are spending billions of dollars trying to fend off a faceless army of digital intruders. But the biggest threats may come from within. Banks fear a growing number of employees are unwittingly exposing valuable information to hackers or in some cases leaving digital clues that…
Comcast to pay $25.95 million to settle charges over hazardous waste disposal and privacy breach
From the California Attorney General’s Office this past week: SAN FRANCISCO – Attorney General Kamala D. Harris and Alameda County District Attorney Nancy E. O’Malley today announced a settlement with Comcast Cable Communications LLC (“Comcast”) to resolve allegations that Comcast both unlawfully disposed of hazardous waste and discarded records without first omitting or redacting private customer…
The FBI is investigating Juniper’s big, embarrassing security hole
Julie Bart reports: Things have gone from bad to worse over a big security hack that put “unauthorized code” inside security equipment sold by Juniper Networks. On Thursday, Juniper disclosed the problem, which affected its NetScreen firewalls. Firewalls are security devices that are supposed to help protect networks from being hacked. Now the FBI is investigating the…
TX: Former heart clinic employee admits to illegally disclosing patient’s medical records
Yet another “small” breach with big harm. Kevin Krause reports: Ebony Shonte Echols was not happy with a patient — a commercial airline pilot — who complained about the heart clinic where she worked. So she sent his health information to the Federal Aviation Administration against his wishes, federal authorities said. Echols, 35, a former employee…
Brother of the Year: Medical ID Theft Suspect Arrested, Accused of Impersonating Long-Lost Brother
After an eight-month investigation prompted by an NBC Bay Area report, local authorities arrested and extradited Gary Wayne Bogle, charging him with 10 felony counts of false impersonation for using his brother’s identity to receive medical treatment. Read the report by Vicky Nguyen and David Paredes on NBC Bay Area. Related: Ponemon Fifth Annual Study on Medical Identity Theft