AP reports that retailers would have to notify customers of data breaches under a bill that passed the state Assembly, AB1710. The bill also requires retailers to provide credit monitoring services. The bill passed the Assembly 43-24 on Tuesday, and now heads to the state Senate. Bill text.
ICO slaps Student Loans Company after multiple breaches
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has criticised the Student Loans Company Limited after a series of data breaches involving customers’ records. The business reported several incidents where information held about customers, including medical details and a psychological assessment, had been sent to the wrong people. An ICO investigation found that not enough checks were carried…
iPhone owners hit by ‘ransomware’ hack demanding money for their phones
James Vincent reports: An iPhone feature designed to discourage theft by letting users shut down their smartphone remotely has reportedly being compromised by hackers using it to hold mobiles to ransom. Posts from Apple’s official support forums describe how users’ Find My iPhone feature (also available for the iPad) has been hijacked by fraudsters who…
Computer hacker “Sabu” turned FBI mole sentenced in U.S. to time served
Bernard Vaughn and Nate Raymond report: A leading hacker who authorities say helped disrupt at least 300 cyber attacks after agreeing to become an FBI cooperator was sentenced to time served on Tuesday. Authorities say Hector Xavier Monsegur, a onetime member of the cyber-activist hacking group Anonymous who under the name “Sabu” co-founded the offshoot…
Computers with patient test data stolen from Denver VA hospital
John Ferrugia reports: Two bio-medical computers containing data from tests on about 239 VA patients have been stolen from a pulmonary lab at the Veterans Affairs hospital in Denver. These are computers used to record data from pulmonary function tests for the patients and were in a locked pulmonary lab. Read more on The Denver…
Spotify takes security ‘precautions’ after breach
Clara O’Brien reports: Streaming music service Spotify has become the latest company to be hit by a security breach as it admitted that it had uncovered “unauthorised access” to its systems. However, the firm said its investigation had shown only one user’s data had been accessed, and said it was not aware of any increased risk to…