Evan Schuman at Storefront Backtalk is reporting that the Secret Service has identified an overseas suspect in the Heartland Payment Systems breach. Evan also has some other updated info on the breach: The processor first learned of the breach (when alerted by Visa and Mastercard) in late October/early November, said Heartland spokesman Jason Maloni. Previously,…
Patient data stolen in Japan
Ten patients’ personal information has been lost after a sales vehicle containing a set of documents was stolen from a car park. Details of the physicians looking after the patients are also missing, along with the name, date of birth, age, gender, blood test data and questionnaire sheets detailing reactions to medications of the people…
WA: Bill would make prescription data private
Many patients assume their prescription history is confidential, but a loophole in a federal privacy law is letting pharmaceutical marketing companies to contact consumers with targeted, promotional campaigns. … To fight this, Rep. Jamie Pedersen (D-Seattle) and others have introduced House Bill 1493 to close the loophole. Advocates say the change would protect thousands of…
Abortion foes find new climate in Washington
Andrea Stone reports: Thousands of abortion opponents marched here on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade Thursday, but for the first time in 14 years, they found themselves out of step with both the president and the party controlling Congress. […] Bush routinely sent words of encouragement to the March for Life. President Obama issued…
Six month exposure window on Heartland breach?
According to a CBS news report, Platte Valley Bank issued the following release today: The VISA Fraud Control & Investigations has been notified of a confirmed network intrusion that has put VISA account numbers at risk. Platte Valley Bank received a VISA Alert Wednesday, January 21, 2009. As of Thursday morning, January 22nd, 388 of…
Heartland breach raises questions about PCI standard’s effectiveness
Ellen Messmer reports: […] It’s not yet known if the Heartland data breach will count as the largest card heist ever. But some analysts say what is clear is that payment-card processors are under increasing attack, and that the Payment Card Industry (PCI) data security standard that Visa and MasterCard require isn’t sufficient to ensure…