Identity Theft is Real and Scary. So What Are You Going To Do About It?

21 Thursday Sep 2017

Posted by Celia C. Elwell, RP in Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Consumer Law, Consumer Privacy, Identity Theft

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Identity Theft, United States Computer-Readiness Team

Security Tip (ST05-019) – Preventing and Responding to Identity Theft, United States Computer-Readiness Team (with hat tip to Sabrina I. Pacifici, BeSpacific Blog) t.(Original release date: September 17, 2008 | Last revised: January 31, 2017)

https://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/tips/ST05-019

I would love to stick my head in the sand, and pretend that identity theft does not exist. It is a foolish reaction to a real threat, especially after the recent Equifax hack.

Some people think that, if they do not use the Internet to pay their bills or make purchases, they are safe. I wish that were true; it isn’t. Hackers are more sophisticated, which means we should take additional precautions.

This security tip will help, and there is another link to an earlier tip that is likewise helpful. I encourage you to research further and take whatever precautions you deem necessary. -CCE

Seventh Circuit Denies Neiman Marcus’ Rehearing of Data Breach Class Action.

29 Tuesday Sep 2015

Posted by Celia C. Elwell, RP in Appellate Law, Computer Forensics, Computer Virus, Cybersecurity, Identity Theft, Malware

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Data Breach, Hackers, Hunton and Williams, Identity Theft, Privacy, Privacy & Information Security Law Blog, Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals

Seventh Circuit Denies En Banc Review For Data Breach Class Action, Privacy & Information Security Law Blog posted by Hunton and Williams

https://www.huntonprivacyblog.com/2015/09/29/seventh-circuit-denies-en-banc-review-for-data-breach-class-action/

Plaintiffs, Neiman Marcus cardholders, brought a class action against the store for damages caused by a 2013 data breach. Hackers accessed customers’ credit and debit cards, as well as other personal information. The Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, ruled that the individual Plaintiffs and the class action against Neiman Marcus lacked standing under Article III of the Constitution.

Plaintiffs appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. The link takes you to the Seventh Circuit’s opinion explaining how Plaintiffs prevailed and why it reversed and remanded the case. Neiman Marcus filed for rehearing. The Seventh Circuit followed its usual habit, and denied it.

The Seventh Circuit’s analysis of its reasons ruling that Plaintiffs had met the three requirements for Article III standing is well worth the read. An added bonus is the link to the 2014 edition of The Practitioner’s Handbook for Appeals to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, -CCE

Westlaw Public Records Database Breached. Who Is Affected?

16 Sunday Nov 2014

Posted by Celia C. Elwell, RP in Cybersecurity, Encryption, Identity Theft, Legal Technology, Privacy, References, Research, Westlaw

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Credit Monitoring, Data Breach, Identity Theft, New Hampshire, Privacy, Westlaw

Westlaw Discloses Breach Of Public Records Database, by Sabrina I. Pacifici, BeSpacific Blog

http://tinyurl.com/pffqhny

News release: ‘West Publishing Corporation, a unit of Thomson Reuters, has notified the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office of a breach involving their Westlaw subscription-only public records database. In a letter dated November 4th to those affected, Senior Vice President Andy Martens explained that on October 14, they detected unusual search activity. Investigation revealed that some subscribers’ passwords had been compromised and used to access the database. The types of information involved included addresses, date of birth, and in some cases, driver’s license numbers and Social Security numbers. No bank account or credit card information was involved. In response to the breach, West removed external access to full sensitive identifiers in public records, forced a password reset on all public user accounts, and implemented additional technological controls to detect and respond to searches of more limited public records that also appeared unauthorized. Federal law enforcement was also contacted. West offered those affected two years of free credit monitoring with Experian ProtectMyID Elite. Nine NH residents were notified. The total number of individuals notified was not indicated in their report to New Hampshire.’

The Mashable Hit List.

13 Sunday Apr 2014

Posted by Celia C. Elwell, RP in Android Phones, Apps, Cell Phones, Clouds, Computer Virus, Disaster Preparedness, Dropbox, Emails, Encryption, Google, Heartbleed, Identity Theft, Law Firm Web Sites, Law Office Management, Legal Blogs, Legal Technology, Malware, Office Procedures, Passwords, PC Computers, Search Enginges, Technology, Using Social Media

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Computer Bugs, Computer Fraud, Heartbleed, Identity Theft, Law Office Management, Password Managers, Passwords, Social media, The Mashable Team

The Heartbleed Hit List: The Passwords You Need to Change Right Now, The Mashable Team

http://mashable.com/2014/04/09/heartbleed-bug-websites-affected/

If you wondered whether any main specific websites are affected, such as Yahoo, this list will help you. It will also help explain the Heartbleed bug, and why you should pay attention to what it is. If you want to know whether your specific bank was compromised, this list may not answer all your questions. So, if you’re not sure whether you should change your password, go ahead and do it.

Even better, find a password manager in this list of the best of the best from PC Magazine by Neil J. Rubenking — http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2407168,00.asp. If you use one password for more than one website — and lots of people do — this is a good solution and a wise move regardless of the Heartbleed bug. -CCE

The Heartbleed Bug – What Is It And What To Do About It.

12 Saturday Apr 2014

Posted by Celia C. Elwell, RP in Android Phones, Apps, Cell Phones, Chrome, Clouds, Computer Virus, Legal Technology, Malware

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Computer Security, Fraud Alert, Hackers, Heartbeat Bug, Identity Theft, Passwords, PC Magazine, PCMag, Scammers

Heartbleed: The Complete Rundown, by PCMag Staff http://tinyurl.com/muscrx5 The Heartbeat Bug was THE news this week. Knowing that it is here, and cannot be avoided is one thing. Knowing about to do about it is critical. Change your passwords, especially to to online banking, e-mail, apps, and other things we’ve taken for granted. -CCE

The Heartbleed bug is the big news in tech this week, an exploit that has been in the wild since 2012 and has left countless Internet users open to scammers. PCMag and the SecurityWatch team have been keeping tabs on all the news, so check out our coverage below, and check back for updates. . . .

IRS Service Is Going From Bad To Worse.

20 Monday Jan 2014

Posted by Celia C. Elwell, RP in Fraud, Government, Identity Theft, Internal Revenue Service

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Allison Linn, CNBC, Fraud Alert, Identity Theft, Identity theft fraud alert, Internal Revenue Service, IRS, National Taxpayer Advocate Nina E. Olson, Taxpayer

Why IRS Customer Service Is Bad (And May Get Worse), by Allison Linn, CNBC

http://www.cnbc.com/id/101339980

[G]iven its limited resources, the IRS said that in 2014 it will stop preparing tax returns for people who need help, such as those who are elderly or disabled. The agency also plans to answer only “basic” tax law questions, and only during the normal filing season through April 15. Instead, it will direct people to the website and other automated sources of information. . . .

Target Update: Affected Customers Now 110 Million and May Still Go Up.

11 Saturday Jan 2014

Posted by Celia C. Elwell, RP in Consumer Law

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Credit Cards, Data Breach, Debit Cards, Emails, Hacking, Identity Theft, Katrina Lamansky, Target, Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel, WQAD.com

Target: Hacking Hit Up To 110 Million Customers, by Katrina Lamansky, WQAD.com

http://tinyurl.com/pssy2r5

People who shopped at Target following Thanksgiving have already heard that their personal information was hacked. But now it is clear that Target was actually hacked much earlier than originally reported.

This morning, the reported number of customers affected was around 40 million. Now the reported number is 100 million, and Target is not sure how high the number will go.

Target will try to contact all affected customers. Be cautious. Contacts from Target will not request any personal information. Target is also offering a program of free credit monitoring and identity theft protection. You will have three months to enroll in that program.

Target says that it does not think the thieves can access anyone’s bank account, but hacked customers are at risk for identity theft. -CCE