Rob Varnon reports: Doctors fighting United Health Group’s takeover of HealthNet of the Northeast are demanding an investigation to see if the privacy rights of thousands of Connecticut residents are being violated by the deal. The Connecticut State Medical Society said Tuesday it has asked state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal to investigate whether the $510…
UK: Social work records found in second-hand filing cabinet
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has found Lancashire County Council in breach of the Data Protection Act after social work records containing sensitive personal data relating to several individuals were found in a filing cabinet purchased second-hand by a member of the public. The records were duplicates of documents held in the council’s offices and…
Ie: Internet forum database ‘hacked’
Irish internet forum Boards.ie has reported an attack on its user database which could affect thousands of users. In a statement it confirmed that “an unauthorised source” from outside Ireland accessed its database server. It urged members who use the same username/email and password on other sites to change passwords. […] Boards.ie says it is…
UK: Apology after magistrates’ details sent to prisoners
Jack Doyle reports: The personal details of hundreds of magistrates were placed in the hands of convicted criminals in a data loss blunder, it was revealed today. A directory containing names, telephone numbers and email addresses of magistrates and court legal advisors in Norfolk was sent for printing in a prison workshop manned by inmates….
Heartland lawsuit plaintiffs go after acquiring banks’ deep pockets
The $60 million settlement offer announced by Visa and Heartland Payment Systems seems in jeopardy of falling apart as lawyers for some of the banks file a new lawsuit against Heartland’s acquiring banks and urge rejection of the settlement offer. Jaikumar Vijayan follows-up on the press release issued yesterday by lawyers for financial institutions suing…
MO: Envelope glitch gives peek at data
Janese Heavin reports: Rex Cone is always concerned about identity theft. So he was especially worried when he received a tax form from the University of Missouri last week that allowed his Social Security number to be displayed through the envelope’s window. “With all of the public service announcements saying to look out for your…