In the beginning of September, a group of computer hackers calling themselves AntiSec announced that they had stolen a file containing unique identification data for 12,367,232 Apple iOS devices. They claimed the database was stolen from the compromised laptop of an FBI agent. Simultaneous to AntiSec’s release, the FBI denied the claim. To substantiate their claim, AntiSec released one million of the unique identifiers minus the personal data embedded in the stolen file.
Imagine for a moment that you have a briefcase containing hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash belonging to your organization. How would you treat this briefcase? Would you leave it unattended in an unlocked area for significant periods of time? Maybe on the front seat of your vehicle while you went shopping, or perhaps on the table at the cafeteria while you go for a drink refill? Sounds absurd, right? Unfortunately, this is exactly what people continue to do every day with their organization’s critical data and information, whether it’s stored on mobile electronic devices or other portable media.
Four giant card-payment processors and large U.S. banks that issue debit and credit cards were hit by a data-security breach after third-party services provider Global Payments Inc discovered its systems were compromised by unauthorized access.