Allen Etzler reports: Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) is no longer collecting Social Security numbers under the district’s new data security policy. Director of Technology Infrastructure Edward Gardner, who oversaw the development of the new data policy, said the school system would not collect student Social Security numbers “unless explicitly necessary,” and he could not…
Category: Of Note
Notorious Russian Hacker With Links To FSB Scandal Sentenced To Prison
Mike Eckel reports: A notorious Russian hacker whose exploits and later arrest gave glimpses into the intersection of computer crime and Russian law enforcement has been sentenced to two years in prison. The Moscow City Court issued its ruling July 6 against Vladimir Anikeyev in a decision made behind closed doors, one indication of the…
Pakistani Man Sentenced for Laundering Millions in Telecom Hacking Scheme
A massive international hacking and telecommunications fraud scheme served as a backdrop for an FBI investigation that led to the capture of a Pakistani citizen who played a major role in scamming U.S. companies out of millions of dollars in fees. From November 2008 to December 2012, Muhammad Sohail Qasmani laundered more than $19.6 million…
Two charged with running hacking service used in ‘major computer intrusions’ of U.S. businesses
Rachel Weiner reports: Two men from Latvia ran a malware service that has been in operation for more than a decade and used in major attacks against U.S. businesses, according to an indictment unsealed Wednesday in federal court in Alexandria, Va. The men, along with an alleged co-conspirator in Virginia, designed a buffet of hacking…
New FTC Policy Would Shield Lawyers, Staff From Personal Liability
C. Ryan Barber reports: The Federal Trade Commission on Wednesday adopted an indemnity policy that will shield lawyers and other staff from any personal liability for enforcement actions that draw a lawsuit and expose them to a monetary judgment. The policy, adopted without public comment, will allow the agency to cover the cost of any…
Hackers Connected to NotPetya Ransomware Surface Online, Empty Bitcoin Wallet
Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai reports: Hackers connected to the disruptive world-wide ransomware attack that crippled Ukraine and hit computers all over the world have surfaced online. Bitcoin sent to the hackers by victims has been moved from an online wallet, and someone seemingly connected to the group is now asking for more money. On June 28, unknown…