Category Archives: data privacy

INTERIM: 5 Concerns Your Clients Have about Data Breaches

  • More concerned about data breaches than lawsuits
  • Worried about corporate image damage from data breaches
  • Board Chairs and CEOs are more involved in data security than ever before
  • Odds are high most comapnies have a data response plan
  • Data breaches are increasing in severity and frequency

 

Credit Union National Association | Study: Companies losing confidence in data breach protections

Lege Meet Legal Trend: Hacking Laws. Define Data Ownership Like This.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals is wrangling over wording in an anti-hacking statute.

What legislative craft became legal fodder? Whether a law that prevents hacking can be applied against a business.

Why does this matter to your clients? Businesses want to protect the data they retain and the data their customers have on their websites and computers. But, who owns that data?

Why does this matter in Texas? Data storage facilities in Texas, like the large Facebook data storage open…

INTERIM Lege Trend: State Proposes 6 Data Security Standards for Businesses.

New York Legislature, at the behest of its Attorney General, is strengthening its data security laws. 

Assembly Bill 6866 adds new data to protection requirements and increases penalties.

This bill creates these standards that establish compliance with the law for businesses:

  • a business that protects data more than the law requires
  • a business that complies with Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act
  • a business that meets international standards for information security
  • a business that complies with…

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…

2015 House Interim Charges. 14 Committees. Data Security is Everywhere.

Data Security

Businesses | Financial Institutions | Law Enforcement | Education | Local Governments | State Data Safety | Data Security in State Contracting

THE INTERIM CHARGES

  • Business & Industry: data security in the sharing economy and business cybersecurity
  • County Affairs: County data security and data retention
  • Government Transparency & Operation: state cyber security standards, agency cyber security, data retention and protection of personal information, cloud computing,…

Congress takes Up Data Security in Wifi Cars. Welcome to Texas.

Background: Modern technology in cars was once 8 tracks. Today it’s wifi because no one wants to deal with a 5 year old who has no access to the internet on the highway. 

How do internet connected cars and data security intersect? Hackers have shown how they can take over the controls of vehicles. It’s a Stephen King book come to life. 

What’s Congress doing?  Some say nothing. Others say on November 18, 2015 the House Oversight and Government Reform is having a hearing on the…

Hospital Association Hones in on Data Security. 5 Highlights.

  • California Hospital Association warns its members that health care is behind on data security
  • HIPPA compliance isn’t enough.
  • Hospitals also have to protect data in electronic medical equipment
  • Regulatory Fines are increasing exponentialluy every year. 
  • A Cybersecurity firm recommends these 3 corrective measures:
    • “1) adopt two factor authentication for access to databases containing sensitive patient information;
    • 2) use behavioral analytics to identify suspicious behavior and encrypt…

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…

Regulatory Trend: Agency Gives 3rd Party Contractor Data. Oops. 3rd Party Health Contractors Beware. 3rd parties Pay Costs of Data Exposure.

The Illinois Department of Insurance accidentally led to the posting of Social Secrity Numbers of health records online. 

How did a 3rd party get caught in a date release of health records? The agency sent records, including social security numbers, to Blue Cross Blue Shield which Blue Cross Blue Shield posted online. 

What happened to the 3rd party? The Department of Insurance took immediate corrective measures against Blue Cross Blue Shield

What is the 3rd party’s…