Jacob Bunge reports: Monsanto Co. sued a former computer programmer, alleging he stole proprietary files after resigning to explore a job at a Chinese seed company. The lawsuit comes as the agriculture industry’s embrace of high-tech software and analytics, led by big companies like Monsanto and Deere & Co. as well as startups, has opened…
Category: U.S.
Equifax service remains mum about client reports of tax refund fraud
Back in April, DataBreaches.net noted that Stanford University was notifying its employees about tax refund fraud. The fraud appeared to result from perpetrators downloading employees’ W-2 information from the university’s vendor, W-2 Express, and then using the info to file fraudulent returns. W-2 information typically includes an employee’s name and address, their wage and salary information, as well…
FEMA Mishandles Sensitive Information at Disaster Sites: IG Report
Jack Moore reports: After a wildfire tears through your community, the last thing you may be worried about is having your identity stolen or your personal information breached. But maybe you should be. A new inspector general report finds the Federal Emergency Management Agency still struggles to properly handle the safeguarding of personally identifiable information,…
NJ financial advisor admits identity theft that cost clients $500k
Sergio Bichao reports: A Middletown financial advisor accused of bilking nearly 20 clients out of a half million dollars has pleaded guilty to the charges against him. Christopher D. Biello [aka Christopher Sherman], 43, is facing as many as 14 years in prison when he is sentenced Nov. 4, and may be ordered to pay…
Military families victimized by a McDonald’s employee taking orders
Margaret Kavanagh reports: Purchasing some fast food turned into a big problem for some people in Norfolk. Right now a former McDonald’s employee is facing 5 felony charges, accused of skimming credit cards from customers. Police said the vast majority of victims are either in the military or related to someone in the military because…
MN: Virus hits city server; resident data not likely breached
Lori Carlson reports: Staff and administrators at Prior Lake City Hall spent nearly four days battling a computer virus that struck the city’s HVAC system on the evening of Wednesday, June 8. City Manager Frank Boyles said a subsequent internal investigation showed no evidence of a data breach of personal information, such as the city’s…