Hackers stole information from the Department of Transportation and several U.S. corporations by seducing employees with fake job-listings on ads and e-mail, a computer security firm said on Monday.
The list of victims included several companies known for providing security services to government agencies.
They include consulting firm Booz Allen, computer services company Unisys Corp., defense contractor L-3 communications, computer maker Hewlett-Packard Co. and satellite network provider Hughes Network Systems, a unit of Hughes Communications Inc., said Mel Morris, chief executive of British Internet security provider Prevx Ltd.
Pretty good list of firms that should know better.
Hackers only targeted a limited group of personal computers, which kept traffic down and allowed them to stay under the radar of security police who tend to identify threats when activity reaches a certain level.
An FBI spokesman declined comment, blah, blah, blah.
Because there’s no patch for human stupidity
1.)
Just wait a few years, its bound to happen.
I experienced data theft last night. (this world is going to self-destruct because technology has afforded unscrupulous people to get what they want by stealthy means)
I went out for a drink last night. The bouncer asked for my ID. The law in New York is that you have to be 21 to drink and that you can be ID’d if you look under 27 years of age. I’m almost 40 years old. I DON”T LOOK UNDER 27! Alright, stupid bouncers who cannot decipher one’s age or are too cowardly to make a judgement call so I give my driver’s license just to get through the door. No harm. But this SOB doesn’t even look at my ID! He runs it through a machine that I didn’t notice. He runs my State’s driver’s license through a bar code reader. Automatically in one quick sweep that establishment knows my complete name, address, driver’s license id number and birthdate. HOLY SHIT! This was the first time this happened so I wasn’t prepared. Why should they have access to my personal information. I’m I going to start getting junk mail due to this? Can I know the owner’s name and address? Are they making money by selling my information. The police state is here. First of all that bouncer had no right to even proof me. Okay, he can LIE and say I look under 27. Okay, so he can see my ID. What law says he has the right to scan my driver’s license?!? You see people are wily. People know how to circumvent law to get what they want. I’ve said it before, I’ve said once again, the single most dangerous aspect of life today is low consciousness getting away with low consciousness behaviour.
# 3 while it is possible that they are reading or even storing all that info the one I had when I owned a liquor store did nothing but either flash a green or red light depending on if the license showed above or below 21.
I’m not sure of the law in NY but in the states that I have had reason to know the law and had provisions to also require that if someone didn’t look older than a certain age that they MUST be checked in no way limited that ALL alcohol purchasers could be checked.
It is, in most states, a felony to sell liquor to a minor. You can’t put that sort of penalty on someone and then not give them the right to check everyone that walks through the door.
Did they check the person in front and behind you? They probably check everyone. In a high volume location it is much easier.
#3 Did he use a bar code scanner or a mag stripe reader. I ask only because I have the mag stripe reader/writer for work and the first thing I did was erase the stripe on my DL.
Someone already tried reading it at a resort since then and they had to take the time to read it manually. Too damn bad for them. They still let me rent the golf cart. 🙂
#4, this bar establishment is using the red light/green light as a PRETEXT to creating a VALUABLE DATABASE of patronizers. They DID scan everybody. In a week, they have maybe 1,000-5,000 VERIFIED addresses. Do you know how lucrative such a database is today to marketers. It is not like on the internet where you can put in a false name and address. Driver’s licenses are VALIDATED as TRUE.
That is the last time I go to that place. As a matter of fact, the next time someone even asks for my ID, I make an about-face and will not enter that bar. If they have a bouncer that can decide a person’s demeanor or age then that says a lot about the owner. Come to think of it, the beer (and bartender) sucked!
#5 – Can I do that with just a powerful speaker magnet?
I may be wrong but I don’t think I can trust a firm with the name Booz Allen.
#7 – Yes. Even a fixed magnet will bias the stripe given time. A good AC magnet (like a bulk tape eraser) would be better though. Unfortunately, those aren’t as common as they used to be.
#9 – cool… I’m gonna erase my strip, not because of Orwellian paranoia, but because I’m an anti social bastard 🙂
A thief does not have to “physically” steal your wallet to take your personal information. RFID technology in some of today’s IDs actually “transmits” this personal information. Aren’t those gas station tokens/cards you just wave at the pump RFID? And newer AMEX cards are RFID as well.
Nothing like getting hacked just walking in an airport or mall. Cheese, now I’m going to need a shielded wallet??
OFTLO – While you’re at it you can erase the magnetic strips on all of your cards. 🙂
#12 – I’m not dumb enough to sit my wallet on the magnet… 🙂
#11 – Those “pay at the pump” tokens work on very close proximity electromagnetic induction, not RFID. Most of them are made by Dallas Semiconductor and are called iButtons.
#13 – Anything magnetic in your pocket can, over time, distort the encoding on a mag strip, including a cell phone, PDA, keychain widgets with batteries (LED lights, car alarm clickers), and other mag-stripe cards too. Our EM-encoded identities are slowly eroding away in our very own pockets!!
#14, Thanks for the info, I’ll do some more research. From Texas Instruments, “RFID technology is used in a range of applications, including access control to buildings, pay-at-the-pump gasoline sales, vehicle security, document tracking, livestock tracking and identification, product authentication, retail, sports timing, supply chain, ticketing, and wireless payment.” http://tinyurl.com/2gjf6w
Those new RFID passports freak me right out.