South Carolina Breach and Error

This past week I have been reading about the data breach in South Carolina. Hackers gained access to the records of the Department of Revenue and 3.6 million South Carolina Taxpayers data. Data ranging from Social Security numbers to home addresses was available.

In the days following the notice of the breach the Governor Nikki Haley has spoken about the data not being encrypted. In her comments she stated that “The industry standard is that most Social Security numbers are not encrypted. A lot of banks don’t encrypt. A lot of those agencies you might think encrypt Social Security numbers actually don’t. It’s not just that this was a DOR situation, but an industry situation.”  

For the past ten years I have tried to bring to the attention of the public that data exposure is a real problem. In California where the first data breach notice law was created, the standard is that if the data is encrypted then notice is not needed. This was included to provide business with a security step that would make encrypting the data a more cost effective option.

There are numerous ways to encrypt the DOR data and still allow DOR personnel to use it. I wonder if the Governor considers paying for 3.6 million people to have credit report monitoring is more cost effective. We are rapidly approaching the point where those who have a breach, and had not taken the step of encrypting the data, will find themselves discussing the standards in front of a jury of their peers.  

Webroot Hits a Homerun With ‘SecureAnywhere 2013’

In the time of caution and concern the users of computers can become confused by the various antivirus programs.  I make it part of my job to check out programs and evaluate them against what is currently available and what needs to implemented.

Webroot has created a new  tool to help fight against those who would hijack our information. Webroot’s antivirus software SecureAnywhere 2013 steps up to the plate with new features and functions that users need in our daily travels on the Internet, especially due to cybercrime and mobile devices.

SecureAnywhere 2013 has high speed antivirus scanning and perhaps the best malware detection tools that I have tested. I was provided with a demonstration of their tools last week during a call with the product manager and one of the engineers. In a live example I was shown that this software can detect and warn you of a number of web login scams. It empowers the everyday user and allows them to  link onto the Internet  safer than ever before.

For years I have told people to be careful of online login scams and the threat of malware. Webroot’s SecureAnywhere 2013 is a reasonably priced anti-virus tool that allows the user to trust this new antivirus program and focus on their project or task. I never minimize healthy distrust of what are clear scams but at least now I don’t need to worry when I login online to my bank because this tool will tell me if it is the correct site or not. Keyloggers and scam sites can’t penetrate this software so I feel safe in allowing my family to be online without concern. One additional feature that I love about this product is the speed of the antivirus scanning. Having used a number of products before that could take up to an hour to complete a scan, imagine my surprise to see a scan done in just minutes. I am talking about single digit minutes.

The following was taken from the press release for this product:

In the first review since its 2013 product release, Webroot SecureAnywhere AntiVirus again garnered the PC Magazine Editors’ Choice Award. In his review, PC Magazine Lead Security Analyst Neil Rubenking wrote, “Webroot SecureAnywhere AntiVirus 2013 gives you speedy scanning and excellent malware blocking in a ridiculously small package. Webroot remains an Editors' Choice for antivirus protection.”

---

This software is a positive step forward and should be part of  a computer user’s arsenal of tools to protect and defend against the threats of online identity theft.

Job Seekers Be Wary

Computers have made job searching a lot faster. It has also opened the door to companies taking multiple applications for a single position. Now comes the trouble spot. Job seekers need to be careful that the application they are filling out is from a legitimate company and for a actual job. Scammers are offering jobs on line. You fill out the online application and never receive a call. Before you fill it out check it out.

Florida Realtors Warn to be on the Alert for Bogus Emails.

The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation is warning Realtors and other professionals with state licenses to watch out for emails supposedly coming from the Department. The scam is an email informing the recipient that they are subject of a pending disciplinary action. The target is directed to contact an investigator at a toll free phone number. During this interview the scammers collect a variety of personal and business information.

Sandi Poreda, communications director for the department, said that the scammers have managed to copy “the banner on our website and created an email signature that looks very much like ours.”

This scam should be a concern for any business person that has been licensed by the State. This scam will most likely be travelling across the country in the next few months. Every business person should think twice before providing information based on an email request.