Benjamin Preiss reports that Ballarat Council was not the only council to have had their network compromised: Councils throughout western Victoria are counting the cost of a security breach to their online networks. The councils have undertaken security reviews and may conduct upgrades following illegal access to their systems. Yesterday it remained unclear how much…
NYC D.A. announces 147-count indictment in case involving 800 stolen credit reports
Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr. announced the indictment of Iguosade Osahon, 28, for stealing more than $500,000 by exploiting stolen identity information over a three-year period. Osahon stole the names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers of more than 750 individuals to obtain at least 800 credit reports, which in turn he…
Disused hard drives strewn about at Oak Ridge, says IG
David Perera reports: Disused hard drives potentially carrying sensitive unclassified information have been scattered in unsecure locations within the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, says a new Energy Department inspector general report. The report, dated August 16 and based on work auditors conducted from January through April of this year, says the lab has lacked internal…
UK: DSG Retail customer credit agreements found in skip
Electronics retailer DSG has been found in breach of the Data Protection Act by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), following the discovery of customers’ credit agreements in or near a skip at one of the company’s PC World stores. The discovery of eight completed credit agreements containing customers’ personal and financial data was made by…
GA: Confidential files found in City Hall East sales items
Ernie Suggs reports: The Atlanta Police Department has launched an investigation into how documents containing sensitive material were left in furniture sold during a liquidation sale of merchandise at City Hall East. At least two people have reported that they found personnel documents among the items they purchased. The documents contained Social Security numbers, addresses…
Fine for Edinburgh data snooping policeman
A police officer who admitted snooping through the force computer and obtaining personal data about people has been fined £4,800. Pc Adrian Merron, 46, was due to stand trial on a total of 58 charges. But the Lothian and Borders officer admitted 10 charges and the Crown accepted not guilty pleas to the rest. Six…