BreachExchange mailing list archives

Re: Is dataloss becoming the next 'computer virus' trend?


From: blitz <blitz () strikenet kicks-ass net>
Date: Mon, 18 Dec 2006 13:57:13 -0500

Perhaps we need to be taking a larger look here as well, it's high time the US enact Draconian privacy laws, much like the EU has to protect ourselves from the top down. Many of these "unknown" companies who have access to our most private information need to be shut down, or curtailed severely as well. The remainder need to be managed in a "Secret" to "Top Secret" security atmosphere, including logs of each and every access and for what reason and accountability to the people who's data they hold. I believe much evil would then be either curtailed or exposed. Much like the illegal alien problem here in the US, too many people are making too much money from violating the laws, and what should be a foregone assumption (privacy) needs to be codified.



We see few compliance or regulatory sanctions, little in the way of
public flogging (the VA laptop loss being a notable exception), and an
ocassional slap on the wrist (e.g., MA Dept of State's whopping $25k
fine against Ameriprise Financial for losing a laptop with data about
230,000 customers and financial advisers).

You're right, these losses are weekly if not daily news items. They're
so commonplace, however, that I'd propose we're (collectively) becoming
desensitized: we're tuning out the ongoing "noise".

I think it's clear we need a landmark tracking / longitudinal study of
these breaches, their affected individuals, and ideally, the
organizations in question, to assess whether there is a real crisis.
There may not be, as much as we think there is or might be.

--
Sean Steele, CISSP
infoLock Technologies
703.310.6478  direct
202.270.8672  mobile
ssteele () infolocktech com
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