Linda McGlasson of BankInfoSecurity.com provides an analysis and commentary, based on ITRC’s statistics for this year. There have been 356 data breaches so far in 2009, according to the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC). And 46 of those breaches have involved financial institutions – up from 34 at this same time last year. In reviewing…
Attempted hack of Wilson County school payroll records
WSMV reports that a hacker tried to gain access to the payroll records of Wilson County school employees. The bank notified the district on Monday. The district indicated that they don’t believe any information was stolen, but is urging employees to check their accounts.
Gonzalez pleads guilty, sentenced to 15-25 years
The Associated Press has reported that Albert Gonzalez has agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft charges. Under a plea agreement with federal prosecutors filed in Boston on Friday, Albert Gonzalez would serve a sentence of 15 to 25 years after pleading guilty to a 19-count indictment. He would also…
Security test prompts federal fraud alert
Robert McMillan of IDG News Service reports: A sanctioned security test of a bank’s computer systems had some unexpected consequences this week, leading the federal agency that oversees U.S. credit unions to issue a fraud alert. On Tuesday, the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) warned all federally insured credit unions of a bogus letter that…
Facial recognition software catches ID thief
He wasn’t Eric Nicholson or Vernon Eugene Lyons. He’s really George Helms, a man sitting in jail on seven counts of forgery for allegedly stealing identities. Authorities say he posed under the names of 10 different people in Indiana and used those names to get identification cards through the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. He allegedly…
Guardsmark employee records: tossed or stolen?
More than 100 employee files containing sensitive information, like social security numbers and fingerprints, were dropped off at First Coast News by a person claiming to be a janitor. That person said the files were in the trash at Guardsmark, a security company in Jacksonville. However, a company official said the files are stolen. Read…