AP/Reuters reports two data breaches out of Germany: SchülerVZ, an online forum for German teenagers and high school students, has said it has identified the person it suspects of stealing the data, which include the name, age, school, gender, and photo of thousands of users. A more serious breach involves the names, client numbers, addresses,…
DNA of 400 sex offenders missing from state database
Ben Poston and Ryan Haggerty report: […] The Journal Sentinel analyzed a database of more than 12,000 felons found missing from the DNA database last month after an audit by the Justice Department. […] A preliminary audit conducted last month by the state Department of Justice showed about 12,000 samples that should be in the…
Files with personal data found in trash bins
Mike Salinero and Peter Barnard report: Hundred of files containing personal information such as names, addresses and Social Security numbers were found Saturday in metal trash bins at two locations in North Tampa. Claudia Dozier, proprietor of Hair Visions Salon, found the first batch of files when she was taking garbage out behind her business….
Study ID's prescription privacy risks
Canadian researchers say they’ve determined information contained in hospital prescription records can be used to easily identify patients. The study, led by Dr. Khaled El Emam of the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, found information on drug prescriptions is a highly sought after commodity by pharmaceutical companies, which use the information in their marketing and…
When 2+2 Equals a Privacy Question
Natasha Singer writes: […] Big players like the Cerner Corporation, which maintains electronic health systems for 8,000 clients, including large hospitals and retail clinics, and smaller players like Practice Fusion, which offers its Web-based health record systems free to health care providers, say they make use of patient data collected from their clients. A spokeswoman…
UK: Private medical records for sale
Jo Macfarlane reports: The confidential medical records of patients treated at one of Britain’s top private hospitals have been illegally sold to undercover investigators. Hundreds of files containing intimate details of patients’ conditions, home addresses and dates of birth are being offered for as little as £4 each. The files were sold by two men…