Robert Hackett reports: Hackers have been targeting energy industry workers with malicious emails containing malware that, when opened, leave the recipients vulnerable to snooping, software security giant Symantec reported Monday. The campaign has primarily targeted Middle Eastern countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. But it has also afflicted other nations as well,…
UK: Policeman handed absolute discharge for breaching data protection act
Rebecca Buchan reports: A policeman who searched his work computer database for restricted information about his sisters has been handed an absolute discharge. During the course of one day, Keith Knowles accessed seven crime files while at work at Woodhill House, Westburn Road. The documents – relating to his siblings Lynn Robertson and Veronica Knowles…
MD: Data Breach at Westland Middle School Releases Student Locker Combinations
From the locker-numbers-today-grades-tomorrow dept.: Krista Brick reports: Information technology professionals are trying to determine today how students were able to access a secured computer file at Bethesda’s Westland Middle School and distribute the names, locker numbers and locker combinations for that school’s 1,400 lockers. Montgomery County Public School’s Westland Principal Alison Serino told MyMCMedia Wednesday that…
Hacked uni’s admins hand ID theft prevention reward to data burglars
I wish this was an April Fools’ Day prank, but it’s not. Alexander J. Martin reports that Bradley University’s response to their recent breach may just have made things worse for their employees. Keep in mind as you read the following that the breach involved Social Security numbers: The private institution then attempted to mitigate…
New privacy taskforce announced after leak of G20 leaders’ details
Paul Farrell reports: Australia’s immigration department has announced the creation of a new taskforce to strengthen the handling of sensitive information following an embarrassing data breach involving the personal details of G20 world leaders. […] The immigration department has been involved in several other serious privacy breaches since 2012, including the disclosure of details of almost 10,000 people…
The Netherlands: new rules for cookies, data breaches and fines
Joke Bodewits of Hogan Lovells writes: Recently, new rules on cookies (all links in Dutch) came into force in the Netherlands. In addition, the Dutch Second Chamber approved a draft bill to introduce a mandatory data breach notification requirement and to strengthen the Dutch Data Protection Authority’s investigative and fining powers. The new rules apply to all companies acting…