Holly Ramer of the Associated Press has a fascinating story on how our government is contributing to credit problems for some Americans because of our relationship to the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau. It seems that each of them issue their own Social Security Numbers,…
Bits ‘n Pieces
In the justice system: Four men living in the Dallas area have been sentenced to prison in what prosecutors say was an ID theft and bogus loans scheme. The U.S. Attorney’s Office on Friday announced sentences for Gilbert Gotoro, Christopher Chiota, Tendeka Daniel Parirenyatwa and Michael Thomas Jr. More. Gene Anthony Franklin 34 was sentenced…
Hacker used Twitter to control infected PCs
Twitter’s been having a rough couple of weeks. A researcher looking into the attacks that knocked Twitter offline last week discovered another, unrelated security problem. At least one criminal was using a Twitter account to control a network of a couple hundred infected personal computers, mostly in Brazil. Networks of infected PCs are referred to…
UK doctors' cautious backing to online records
Doctors in the county have supported proposals to allow the public to view and amend their medical records online. The suggestion, put forward by the Conservatives this week, is part of plans to give patients more control over their individual records. Patients would be able to log in online to access their records, add details…
Dumped real estate docs in Denver
It’s like throwing away someone’s good name. The Colorado Division of Real Estate removed hundreds of sensitive loan documents left in a dumpster behind a Denver shopping center. A loan officer found them Friday afternoon and called the state– which immediately removed the files. And now it’s launched an investigation as to who violated state…
Dutch news agency goof leaks VIP phone numbers
Security shortcomings by Dutch press agency GPD exposed the private telephone numbers of politicians and other public figures to prying eyes until earlier this week. Former telephone numbers of controversial anti-immigration MP Geert Wilders and an old (now disconnected) mobile, formerly belonging to prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende, were left exposed by the leak. Current…