New malware being used by cybercrooks does more than let hackers loot a bank account; it hides evidence of a victim’s dwindling balance by rewriting online bank statements on the fly, according to a new report.
The sophisticated hack uses a Trojan horse program installed on the victim’s machine that alters html coding before it’s displayed in the user’s browser, to either erase evidence of a money transfer transaction entirely from a bank statement, or alter the amount of money transfers and balances.
The ruse buys the crooks time before a victim discovers the fraud, though won’t work if a victim uses an uninfected machine to check his or her bank balance.
The lack of security around a fax machine amazes me. People don’t use cover sheets because they are lazy and in a hurry… well, maybe not, if there isn’t personal data on there.
But when people use a fax machine for personal use at work, they are generally sending information to banks, health insurers, and mortgage companies. Most of that information contains privacy-sensitive data, yet when you get your transmission sheet back and somebody dumps it on the pile, there is your SSN, bank account numbers, and address for all to behold.
The fax machine ought to be a secured item in your office. Here’s an example of what can happen in a real-world scenario:
Doctors’ offices in Tennessee have been accidentally sending patient information, including Social Security numbers and medical histories, to an Indiana businessman’s fax machine for the past three years. The sensitive medical information was supposed to be sent to the Tennessee Department of Human Services, but Bill Keith, owner of SunRise Solar Inc. in Indiana, says hundreds of confidential medical faxes having been coming to him.
“This is a total breach of privacy,” Keith said. “This is supposed to be confidential, and it just so happens we have some scruples here and wouldn’t do anything with that information. We’ve shredded them, but you can have a file an inch thick in no time.” It looks like the trouble stems from the toll-free fax number. Keith’s number is close to that of the state’s Disability Determination Section, under DHS.
Keith’s fax rang 167 times in a month at the peak of the problem, he said. Keith said he hasn’t kept an exact count, but his office averages about five patient faxes a week and sometimes more.
If you have an hour or so over your lunch today, you should watch this presentation from Garr Reynolds. This is what a great integration of public speaking and visual slides looks like.
Scott Hodge is the pastor of Orchard Valley Community Church in Aurora, IL. We came in contact with them a few years ago when my wife’s unchurched family started attending there and later when my wife’s grandfather passed away and they held the memorial service there. He has been a blessing for me to listen to ever since once I got an iPod last year and started downloading the The Orchard’s iTunes podcasts. Here is a short video of him speaking:
If you’re looking for a more local pastor in the Indianapolis area, here is Jeffrey Johnson of Eastern Star Church.
“The Nines” was an experiment allowing dozens of Christian leaders across the country to address other Christian leaders about important issues facing the church.
