No matter what sector, no matter what country, there are employees who can’t seem to resist misusing their access to databases for snooping or personal reasons. Today’s example involves the Gardai in Ireland: Confidential information on six “high-profile” personalities on the Garda Pulse computer system was accessed “inappropriately” by members of the force. The multiple…
Category: Government Sector
GA: Dozens of Watershed Management Employees’ Identity Stolen for Tax Refund Fraud
Ross McLaughlin reports: 11Alive’s Center for Investigative Action has uncovered a very suspicious case of identity theft involving several employees in Atlanta’s Watershed Management. It raises a lot of cases about a possible data breach. There’s no evidence yet to suggest the breach occurred within the city, but it’s suspect, considering that so many employees…
VA: Security breach leaves Richmond firefighters’ social security numbers exposed
WTVR reports: Though the Richmond Fire Department spokesperson believes it was a mistake, a file containing all department Social Security numbers was exposed online. A file was created that contained all department Social Security Numbers, it was a file created for users that needed access to the information, according to Lt. Robbie Hagaman. For example, if…
ZA: SANRAL resets passwords but doesn’t confirm any breach
After a hacker revealed a vulnerability in the SANRAL website that exposed customer information in January, SANRAL denied it was hacked. Today, they’ve notified registered e-toll users of a password reset, but claim that they still have no evidence of a hack. According to BusinessTech: ETC, the company running the system, told BusinessTech that its…
Asylum seekers told they will foot the bill if their data-breach cases fail
Oliver Laughland and Paul Farrell report: Asylum seekers involved in court proceedings over a data breach whichpublicly disclosed the personal information of almost 10,000 people in immigration detention have been told by lawyers representing immigration minister Scott Morrison they will be billed for his legal costs should their cases fail. A letter sent to asylum seekers…
UK: Snooping police breach privacy laws in Cambridgeshire to spy on former lovers, neighbours, family – and high-profile personalities
Raymond Brown reports: Police officers and snooping staff at the Cambridgeshire force have broken data rules to spy on former lovers, friends, family, neighbours – and even high-profile names. Four staff employed by the constabulary have been sacked for breaches of the Data Protection Act since and 37 disciplinary measures in total have been instigated….