Data Security in the News
According to the 2017 Thales Data Threat Report, around 52 percent of merchants have experienced a data breach in one form or another. In addition, around 19 percent feel vulnerable. The problem is many retailers, and businesses in general, have not learned much from past experiences.
According to Joinesty, data security is critical in today’s fast-paced, tech-infused world. Organizations cannot afford to keep using the same security solutions that may have worked in the past.
photo/ Gerd Altmann
Modern breaches evolve and so should security measures.
1.What Happened with HBO?
According to the Hollywood Reporter, hackers may have downloaded around 1.5 terabytes of data from HBO. This was data stored in different locations too.
It should not have been easy to hack, but the information was stolen anyhow. It makes you wonder how an outfit as dominant as HBO could allow such a breach to happen.
Then, there was the Yahoo attack of 2013 where a billion user accounts were hacked. To be fair, most people no longer use Yahoo for email–but, the hackers made their message clear.
Then, in 2014, Sony was hacked. Embarrassing e-mails were leaked leading to the ouster of co-chairman Amy Pascal. Plus, in June 2017, government websites in New York, Ohio, Maryland and Washington were hacked and momentarily displayed anti-American messages.
As you can see, cybercriminals are working overtime to steal information.
2. Encryption and Government
At the DEF CON cybersecurity conference in Las Vegas, Rep. Will Hurd (R-Texas) said on Sunday that the U.S. is just as serious about data security as Europe. Hurd is one of several legislators, part of a bipartisan Judiciary group, who oppose laws that allow enforcement agencies to access all encrypted data in the United States.
Currently, American law enforcement cannot access chat apps or files from criminals without a warrant. On the other hand, European nations either already have or are in the process of enacting laws that let law enforcement agencies access all encrypted data in those countries.
Yet, cybersecurity experts believe that adding backdoors into encrypted data is the same as adding another entry point for hackers. If cybercriminals can hack the government, they can certainly hack all encrypted data.
3. FTC and Data Security
On July 21, the Federal Trade Commission announced they would publish a blog every Friday regarding the lessons they learned from data security investigations that ended without any formal actions. These blogs are intended to help companies to better understand what the FTC requires for data security.
It is also quite revealing given that the information comes from their nonpublic resolutions process. Many companies, including Amazon and Facebook have had issues convincing the FTC that they have implemented reasonable levels of data security.
In fact, FTC Act’s Section 5 allows the FTC to enact data security compliance actions. Since the FTC is now producing this blog, it can give businesses insight into how the FTC views the various levels of data security implemented on various companies.
4. Final Thought
Data security is more than just a phrase to make everyone feel good. Cybercriminals will access your information eventually unless you become more proactive with securing your data.
Author: Carmelo Hannity
photo/ Gerd Altmann via pixabay
