Sources: Carnegie (chart), Sanderflight (photo)

Adoption of AI Surveillance Technology Surges

Mathew J. Schwartz • September 18, 2019

Governments are rapidly adopting AI surveillance technology to advance political goals, according to a new report from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. While Chinese suppliers dominate, liberal democracies and authoritarian regimes alike are developing and procuring such technology.

Cybercrime

Cybercrime Black Markets: RDP Access Remains Cheap and Easy

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Governance

Lumin PDF Leak Exposed Data on 24 Million Users

Jeremy Kirk • September 18, 2019

Ignoring a breach disclosure can have ugly consequences. Case in point: Lumin PDF, a PDF editing tool, which saw data for much of its user base - about 24.3 million - published in an online forum late Monday. Data breach expert Troy Hunt says it's sign of the dysfunction in the breach disclosure process.

Governance

Justice Department Sues Snowden Over Memoir

Scott Ferguson • September 18, 2019

The U.S. Justice Department has sued Edward Snowden over his new memoir, claiming that the former NSA contractor violated a nondisclosure agreement he signed when he worked for the government before becoming the world's best-known whistleblower. The suit seeks to collect all profits from the book.

HIPAA/HITECH

Victim Total Soars in County Health Data Breach

Marianne Kolbasuk McGee • September 18, 2019

A Minnesota county that originally reported last December that a hacking incident affected about 600 individuals now says about 118,000 may have had healthcare data exposed. What's behind the huge spike?

Cyberwarfare / Nation-State Attacks

Senators Urge FCC to Review Licenses for Chinese Telecoms

Apurva Venkat • September 18, 2019

U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Tom Cotton, R-Ark., are asking the Federal Communications Commission to reconsider operating licenses granted to two Chinese telecommunications companies, citing concerns over national security and foreign espionage.

Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning

Using Artificial Intelligence to Combat Card Fraud

Nick Holland • September 17, 2019

Artificial intelligence is playing an important role in the fight against payment card fraud, says Gord Jamieson, senior director of Canada risk services at Visa. He'll offer a keynote presentation on the latest fraud trends at Information Security Media Group's Cybersecurity Summit in Toronto Sept 24-25.

Breach Notification

Brokerage Firm Hit With $500,000 Data Breach Penalty

Apurva Venkat • September 16, 2019

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission has hit Philips Capital Inc., a Chicago-based brokerage firm, with a $500,000 penalty for security missteps before and after a 2018 data breach, which resulted in the theft of $1 million from client accounts.

Governance

Life After Snowden: US Still Lacks Whistleblowing Rules

Mathew J. Schwartz • September 16, 2019

Ahead of the release of Edward Snowden's memoirs chronicling his decision to bring illegal "big data" domestic U.S. surveillance programs to light, a former NSA intelligence specialist points out that the U.S. still lacks a whistleblowing law to protect intelligence workers who spot illegal activity.

Cybercrime

Credit Card Theft Ringleader Pleads Guilty

Scott Ferguson • September 13, 2019

One of the three Ukrainian men charged with leading the notorious Fin7 hacking group, which prosecutors say stole 15 million payment cards, has pleaded guilty to two federal charges.

Multi-factor & Risk-based Authentication

PSD2 Authentication Requirements: The Implementation Hurdles

Geetha Nandikotkur • September 13, 2019

Because banks, fintech firms, merchants and payments processors in the EU have struggled to meet the Sept. 14 deadline for compliance with the new PSD2 "strong customer authentication" requirements for electronic payments, it may take a while for European consumers to notice authentication changes.

Biometrics

Calif. May Ban Facial Recognition in Police Body Cameras

Apurva Venkat • September 13, 2019

Lawmakers in California have voted to ban the use of facial recognition technology within the body cameras that police wear. The measure now awaits the governor's signature.

Cybercrime

For Sale: Admin Access Credentials to Healthcare Systems

Marianne Kolbasuk McGee • September 13, 2019

Cybercriminals are "upping their game" by stealing and then auctioning off on the dark web administrative access credentials to healthcare organizations' clinician and patient portals, says Etay Maor of IntSights.

Governance

Tips on Countering Insider Threat Risks

Jeremy Kirk • September 13, 2019

Insider threats are difficult to counter. What happens when an employee goes rogue, and how do you catch them? Charles Carmakal of Mandiant, who says his firm is dealing with more insider threat investigations, shares tips for better defenses.