Marie Boran reports: Recent findings from Irish online backup firm keepITsafe have revealed there is a correlation between the increase in unemployment as a result of the global recession and the tripling of malicious data attacks on companies. Companies reported they experienced a threefold increase in the number of malicious data deletions as a result…
Doors shut as psychologist testifies at German murder trial
A psychologist briefed German judges behind closed doors Thursday on the mental state of Alex W, the xenophobic unemployed man who killed an Egyptian woman and wounded her husband with a knife in a Dresden courtroom in July. The stabbing death of pharmacist Marwa al-Shirbini, 31, pregnant with her second child, caused outrage in Egypt….
Judge spanks lawyer for leaking personal details in brief
Dan Goodin reports: A judge has chastised a lawyer for including the social security numbers and birthdays of 179 individuals in an electronic court brief, ordering him to pay a $5,000 sanction and provide credit monitoring. US District Judge Michael J. Davis said he was meting out the penalty under his “inherent power,” meaning no…
Bord Gáis data security expert had laptop stolen – report
Elaine Edwards provides an update on a breach previously covered here and here: A staff member at Bord Gáis who downloaded personal data on more than 93,000 customers to a laptop that was subsequently stolen had specific responsibility for ensuring the protection of data, a report has found. A report on the investigation by the…
Woman admits selling IDs used for 'enhancements'
Kevin Amerman reports: A former Allentown woman who sold personal information from Lehigh Valley residents that was used to purchase penis enlargements and breast implants for accomplices has admitted her role in the conspiracy. Carniola Santana, 25, was sentenced today to four years’ probation by Lehigh County Judge Robert L. Steinberg immediately after she pleaded…
JP: Data leaked on mixi game users
A system bug in a popular farming game on the mixi social networking site led to personal details of as many as 4,200 users being leaked online, it has been learned. Phone numbers and e-mail addresses of users who made credit card purchases of special items in the Sunshine Bokujo (Sunshine stock farm) game were…