Category Archives: data encryption

INTERIM: Data Breach. Kid data and pictures hacked.

VTech, a manufacturer of electronic educational gadgets for kids, has been hacked.

Hackers took:

  • headshots of kids & parents
  • chat logs
  • audio files of kids
  • names of kids & parents
  • email addresses
  • home addresses
  • birthdays

Remedies:

  • A hacker contacted a tech company to expose VTECH’s unsecured data storage.
  • VTECH took down their portals that allowed for data storage until a resolution can be reached.

Motherboard | Hacker Obtained Children’s Headshots and Chatlogs From Toymaker…

Realtors Warn of Data Security Issues in Real Estate. 4 State Law Highlights.

  • Hackers are looking for personally identifiable information such as:
    • credit card or bank account information
    • login credentials
    • employment details
    • physical address, e-mail address, and phone
    • social security number
  • Small Businesses account for the majority of the attacks according to the National Association of Realtors® technology policy expert
  • Real Estate can be impacted in 4 major ways:
    • financial harm from expenses resulting from the breach
    • legal risks from lawsuits…

6 Trends in State Data Breach Laws

  • Greater Enforcement Powers for State Attorneys General
  • Protecting More types of data = more reasons to notify consumers
  • Expanded liability for private companies that store state data
  • Requiring companies that have a data breach to offer, at their cost, mitigation services that protect data- think Life Lock etc…
  • Protecting Student Data
  • Requiring encryption for stored data
    • As an example, see: 
      • “The new Washington law goes even further as it identifies a minimum standard for…

Techies Tell Us- DropBox and the like are Open Doors for Hackers

Computer Weekly’s Security Editor has a more succinct explanation replete with tech jargon: 

 “common file synchronisation services such as GoogleDrive and Dropbox for command and control, data exfiltration and remote access, security firm Imperva has revealed.”

At the 2015 Blackhat Security conference, businesses were urged to  begin utilizing “perimeter security to data monitoring and data security.” For more advice, including their recommended security protocols for cloud…

Secure Data by Collecting More Data. Credit Card Companies Look to Biometrics.

In an effort to protect data,  large financial entities, like credit card companies, are looking to collecting facial recognition software to further protect their and your financial data.

Storing biometric information along side financial information at one company seems like that company is putting put a neon sign that reads, “Hacker Dreams Come True Here.” 

Coin Telegraph: Future of Money

States have hard time hiring data security experts.

The National Association of State Chief Information Officers, an organization for states’ chief information technology officials, found states are plagued by problems with hiring cybersecurity experts.

Why? 

  • “Nearly 92 percent of states said salary and pay grades presented a challenge in attracting and keeping employees.
  • 86 percent of states said they’re having trouble recruiting people to fill vacant slots. Four years ago, only 55 percent of states reported …

Top Concern for Credit Unions Rhymes with Lata Becurity

Data Security is the number one concern for credit unions according to the National Association of Federal Credit Unions. 

Their concern is founded in fact. In 2014, 317 million new pieces of malware were created according to Symantec’s 2015 Internet Security Threat Report. Data breaches have been increasing by 20% per year. 

This group supports legislation that includes:

  • Payment of Breach Costs by Breached Entities
  • National Standards for Saf…