Alexander Major of Sheppard Mullin writes: On June 19, 2015, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) published the final version of guidance for federal agencies to ensure sensitive information remains confidential when stored outside of federal systems. The guidelines, Special Publication 800-171, Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information in Nonfederal Information Systems and Organizations, apply to…
Category: U.S.
Visas stolen in truck heist
The Saudi Press Agency reports: The U.S. Embassy in Mexico said Wednesday that a truck carrying visas was hijacked in Mexico and the visas stolen. According to a statement from the embassy, the theft occurred on June 7 “in northern Mexico.” Read more on SPA.
Doña Ana County, N.M., Voter Roll Breach Not Linked to Software Failures
Diana Alba Soular reports: A Doña Ana County, N.M., employee told county commissioners Tuesday that recent allegations of fraud within the County Clerk’s Office either didn’t stem from county computer security system breaches or there’s not enough information available to determine whether that was the case. Separately, the county clerk’s office said it’s taken new steps…
Pot Shops to Close After Owner Admits to Identity Theft
Liberty Zabala reports: A former doctor’s guilty plea in federal court Wednesday will lead to shut down of six medical marijuana clinics across San Diego County. Defendant Nelson Leone, 72, of San Diego, pleaded guilty to identity theft for issuing forged recommendations under another doctor’s name. As a result, six medical marijuana clinics he owned…
U. of Minnesota profs worry personal info hacked; no campus breach found
Alex Friedrich reports: About two dozen University of Minnesota faculty members have told administrators they suspect someone has committed tax fraud using their personal information. Two professors say they and other colleagues were unable to file federal taxes online, because the Internal Revenue Service website told them someone had already filed in their names. The…
IRS employees can use ‘password’ as a password? No wonder we get hacked
Trevor Timm writes: The public is finally starting to learn what security experts have been warning for years: the US government has no idea what it’s doing when it comes to cybersecurity. Worse, the government’s main “solutions” may leave all our data even more vulnerable to privacy violations and security catastrophes. Read more on The Guardian.