Emma WestRasmus reports: “What was the name of your first pet? What’s your favorite color? What’s your mother’s maiden name?” We all know the drill. Whenever we start a new account we are prompted for answers to challenge questions that will surely be easy to remember. But for more than two dozen students at the…
Category: Other
Dozens of Atlanta police socially engineered into giving ID thieves their personal info
At least 39 members or employees of Atlanta law enforcement fell prey to two women who posed as representatives of AFLAC and requested their personal information under the ruse of the city changing its insurance options. Read more about it on 11Alive, the Florida-Times Union, and Creative Loafing.
Maplesoft Affected by Security Breach
Seen on Maplesoft’s web site: Maplesoft is investigating a security breach of its administrative database that took place on July 17th, 2012. As a result of the breach, the perpetrators gained access to some email subscription data, including email addresses, first and last names, and company and institution names. Any financial information held by Maplesoft remains…
Follow-up: Regulators criticize NYSEG for computer security breach
Remember the breach reported by New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) and Rochester Gas and Electric (RG&E) back in January? Jeff Platsky reports the results of an investigation into the utilities’ security: A potential data breach at New York State Electric & Gas Corp. not only drew the ire of customers but is now…
Best Buy says some customer accounts accessed by hackers using login combinations obtained elsewhere
Suzanne Choney reports: Best Buy says some customers’ email accounts may have been hacked. The retail giant is notifying those customers via email, telling them their current passwords have been disabled and asking them to reset their passwords. The email, which went out Friday, says in part: We are currently investigating increased attempts by hackers around…
Hackers grab customer data, demand cash from payday lender
Elinor Mills reports: Hackers have released consumer data stolen from an online loan provider, after the company refused to pay an extortion fee. “On June 12, AmeriCash Advance received a fax, telling us that part of our Web site had been hacked. The letter went on to demand initial payment of $15,000 from us,” AmeriCash Advance, an…