June 22, 2009
Smash Hack Attacks
by Paul Jacob
Add one more news story to all the others about how your private data is not secure in any database.
In May, a gang of hackers demanded $10 million ransom in exchange for not posting the personal information of millions of Virginia residents on the Internet.
Yikes, I'm from Virginia!
The Virginia Department of Health Professions confirms that there was indeed a recent breach of its servers.
If marauders get your name, birthday, and social security number, they can make life a living hell for you. Some of these jokers commit crimes in the name of the identity they stole. Guess who ends up getting arrested.
No, the databases are not secure. Still, Big Brother keeps trying to compel us to stick all our private data in one huge database to be tethered to a national ID card. The latest approach is to require all state ID cards to follow federal data and biometric protocols. And then link every state database together until it's all one big database. The fate of this federal project is uncertain, since — thank goodness — some state governments are refusing to play along. But the feds will keep trying.
If the government succeeds, cyber terrorists would need to pull off only one big hack attack to jeopardize the privacy and security of every card-carrying American.
I'm against being forced to be a sitting duck. How about you?
Paul Jacob's "Common Sense" is published by the Citizens in Charge Foundation. Their website can be visited at www.citizensincharge.org.
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Comments
If matching biometrics is necessary to access the contents of the records, sometimes more information is better than less.
If I carried my records with me, or my doctor had them in a send-only protocol for specialists, rather than having them accessible in a database, this would be most ideal.
Of course, if we had a cashless and moneyless society, where everyone was less liquid, identify thieves would have nothing to steal.
Posted by: Michael Bindner | June 22, 2009 10:04 AM
zvCaKt comment6 ,
Posted by: Uomlsjiw | June 22, 2009 01:34 PM
zvCaKt comment6 ,
Posted by: Uomlsjiw | June 22, 2009 01:35 PM
I wasn't aware of this going on in Virginia but it is extremely scary to think of. The sad part is, even though this would be a ridiculous breach of privacy, you know that the website would get a record number of hits in the first week and everyone in the world would be looking on to see all of the Virginia residents' secrets. That said, I just can't imagine a situation where the people in charge of moderating the Internet would ever allow this kind of thing to get out. I don't think there is too much to worry about. Scary idea though.
Posted by: Paul Eschen | June 25, 2009 11:49 AM
I wasn't aware of this going on in Virginia but it is extremely scary to think of. The sad part is, even though this would be a ridiculous breach of privacy, you know that the website would get a record number of hits in the first week and everyone in the world would be looking on to see all of the Virginia residents' secrets. That said, I just can't imagine a situation where the people in charge of moderating the Internet would ever allow this kind of thing to get out. I don't think there is too much to worry about. Scary idea though.
Posted by: Paul Eschen | June 25, 2009 11:49 AM