Sasha S. Horne reports: A bill that prohibits microchips from being involuntarily implanted in humans overwhelmingly passed the State Senate today. The bill would outlaw placing sensors, transmitters or other micro devices under a persons skin without their consent. It is sponsored by Republican State Senator Chip Pearson. “This is simply to try to get…
Editorial: Florida trampled woman's rights
Today’s St. Petersburg Times has an editorial about a case previously covered here. They write: Samantha Burton wanted to make her own decisions about her obstetrical care, but the state of Florida wouldn’t let her. Claiming it was protecting her fetus, the state took away her rights as a patient and a citizen and made…
Oregon woman sentenced to more than 10 years for part in ID theft ring
Carol Crane, 47, was sentenced to 124 months in prison in connection with the investigation of an identity theft ring which operated in the Portland metropolitan area from 2004 through early 2007. Crane was the sixth person to plead guilty and be sentenced based on participation in the ring. She was also ordered to pay…
Hacker Pleads Guilty to Infiltrating VOIP Networks And Reselling Services for Profit
The first individual ever charged with hacking into the networks of Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) providers and reselling hacked VOIP services for a profit pleaded guilty yesterday, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman, announced. Edwin Pena, 27, a Venezuelan citizen, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton to one count of conspiracy to…
NY: Social Security loses a CD with personal info
Peter C. Mastrosimone reports: A computer disc containing detailed personal information about 969 New Yorkers was lost by a Social Security Administration employee traveling to Queens from the Bronx back in late October. Three months later, on Jan. 22, the agency sent out letters to those people, explaining the situation and assuring them that officials…
Are public school districts adequately securing accounts?
How many school districts have had their funds hacked or otherwise illegally transferred to non-district accounts that we may never have heard about? Consider this newly released NYS Office of the Comptroller audit of Lindenhurst School District on Long Island that reports what were likely hacked accounts in 2007: […] There are nine schools in…