BreachExchange mailing list archives
Re: 88 million... is it really an accurate number? (fwd)
From: "DAIL, ANDY" <ADAIL () sunocoinc com>
Date: Wed, 28 Jun 2006 11:21:17 -0400
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: blitz <blitz () strikenet kicks-ass net> To: lyger <lyger () attrition org> Date: Wed, 28 Jun 2006 09:08:38 -0400 Subject: [Dataloss] 88 million... is it really an accurate number?
On Tue, 27 Jun 2006, lyger wrote:
Hobbit's question leads to yet another question regarding uniqueness: You're an American citizen and have three credit cards. Two are VISAs, one is a MasterCard. Are you: 1. One "record" because of your name and mailing address, 2. Two "records" because you have two different brands of cards, 3. Three "records" because you have three unique card numbers, or 4. Six records because of the cross-references between your card brands and card numbers that seem to exist in various databases? I can't honestly answer that question, so any insight would be appreciated. Are combined raw numbers really useful? Example = Ohio University. In their four or five breaches, are they counting for uniques? Did one person's records live on five different breached servers? One media story says 360,000. Another says 70,000. Is the media counting "records", "names", "unique individuals", or some other criteria? (if responding, please post below for easier thread-following)
Hmm..I see your problem.. I'd say, every breach, at a different time, or different data, by the same or other reason/fault that allowed it to be acquired would constitute a separate incident. In other words, is XYZ company lost your personally identifiable info on Monday, but the thieves came back on Tuesday, and got either the same or different data, each would count as a separate incident. This would tend to push figures higher, as the invader might of copied A-M account data on Monday, and A-Z Tuesday, but since they were on different occasions, yes, I'd count them as separate incidents for the record. Of course, XYZ would like to say "there was a data loss", but as long as we can date the incursions, they should be separate IMHO. We ALL know the stats are being manipulated DOWN by those affected for liability reasons...so if you can document individual breaches, by all means count them as separate. _______________________________________________ Dataloss Mailing List (dataloss () attrition org) http://attrition.org/errata/dataloss/ In addition, many retailers do not keep customer records that allow them to cross reference a credit card number with a customer name or address (especially important in lieu of some of the notification laws being passed). So, if company A (which only stores card numbers and perhaps expiration dates) has a breach, their only method of notification would be to report the incident to their settlement provider (Such as Paymentech), who will report the incident to the card associations and the bank that issued the cards, but no agency would then cross reference to see if that "person" has been affected by another company. Visa will not check with American Express, etc. I personally have been affected 3 times this year. Once by the Veterans Administration, once by Wells Fargo Student Loans, and once by Wells Fargo Home mortgage. All three were stolen laptops. This message and any files transmitted with it is intended solely for the designated recipient and may contain privileged, proprietary or otherwise private information. Unauthorized use, copying or distribution of this e-mail, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. If you have received it in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete the original and any attachments. _______________________________________________ Dataloss Mailing List (dataloss () attrition org) http://attrition.org/errata/dataloss/
Current thread:
- 88 million... is it really an accurate number? (fwd) lyger (Jun 28)
- <Possible follow-ups>
- Re: 88 million... is it really an accurate number? (fwd) DAIL, ANDY (Jun 28)
- Fwd: 88 million... is it really an accurate number? (fwd) Beth Givens (Jun 30)