30Jan
“With Economic Slump, Concerns Rise Over Data Theft”
IDG News Service (01/29/09) ; McMillan, Robert
Laid-off employees are the biggest IT security threat created by the economic recession, according to a new McAfee study, which warned that cybercrime could cost businesses worldwide more than $1 trillion. The study surveyed 1,000 IT decision makers from 800 companies in eight countries. The study says that laid-off employees may steal intellectual property from their former employer in order to sell the information, improve their chances of getting hired with a competitor, or start a company of their own. In addition, acquisitions can leave IT workers unsure of how to report security problems or who to report them to. Existing controls also may not be monitored during an acquisition. Finally, workers who are unsure about their job security and the job security of their colleagues may be more hesitant to report security problems. Ignoring these problems can be costly. McAfee CEO Dave DeWalt says companies lose an average of $4.6 million in intellectual property during a security breach and have to spend about $600,000 to correct the problem. “We don’t have the good risk models and as a result people are taking risks,” says Purdue University computer science professor and study contributor Eugene Spafford. He says the frequency of security breaches will increase as a result of the recession as companies try to cope by cutting their information security expenses.
(go to web site)
23Jan
“Powder Scare at Journal”
Newsday (01/22/09) P. A36 ; Parascandola, Rocco
On Jan. 21, the newsroom of The Wall Street Journal was evacuated after more than a dozen envelopes, some containing white powder–later identified by the police as probably flour–were received; Harvard Law School also received similar mail that same day. The FBI’s Gail Marcinkiewicz says about seven other suspicious envelops containing white powder were sent to other locations in Massachusetts, though authorities believe those are unrelated to the Harvard and Wall Street Journal scares. The New York Police Department says the envelopes could be related to mail with white powder, which was found to be harmless, that was sent to Fox News and several conservative media commentators on Dec. 2. The FBI says five employees at The Wall Street Journal were decontaminated as a precaution. A police source says the powder does not appear to be anthrax or a toxic chemical, but it will be tested to be sure. The Wall Street Journal says that the mail was addressed to several executives located in the Dow Jones building on Water Street. Police say each letter had a different return address in Knoxville, Tenn.
(go to web site)
16Jan
“Lawmakers Mull Self-Defense Bills”
Helena Independent Record (MT) (01/16/09) ; McKee, Jennifer
The Montana Legislature is considering a bill that would give employees in the state the right to carry a gun at work. In addition, the bill requires employers that prohibit employees from carrying guns while at work to provide them with protection that is similar to what they could provide for themselves if they were armed. If employers fail to do this, they can be held liable for injuries employees suffer as a result of a crime that might have been protected if guns were allowed in the workplace. Montana’s Yellowstone County has vowed to oppose the bill, just as it opposed a similar bill that the legislature considered in 2007, said Mark Murphy, the county’s chief criminal deputy attorney.
(go to web site)
09Jan
“Workplace Violence Is Most Worrisome Risk, Survey Reports”
Security Director News (12/30/08) ; Stelter, Leischen
Security Director News’ annual survey of security practitioners found that 49 percent were primarily concerned about the prospect of workplace violence in the coming year. Those concerns are well-founded, according to John Dowd, a senior account manager for Kratos Defense and Security Solutions. Dowd predicted workplace violence would spike in the U.S. over the next 12 to 18 months due to the slumping economy. He called on companies to take steps to protect themselves from this expected increase in workplace violence by training employees as to why they should implement security measures and conducting periodic background checks on all employees. Security Director News’ survey also found that 27 percent of security practitioners were mainly worried about the prospect of intellectual property theft in 2009. Kevin Murray, the director of the technical counterespionage firm Murray Associates, said the theft of intellectual property should be a bigger concern for businesses than terrorism. Murray noted that companies need to be sure to educate their employees about intellectual property theft and train them about how they can protect the company from it.
(go to web site)
02Jan
“Private Investigators Offer Tips on Thwarting Employee Theft”
MaineBiz (12/29/08) ; Rooks, Douglas
Employee theft poses a major problem for both large and small businesses, as theft is expected to rise due to the struggling economy. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimates that as many as 75 percent of employees would steal from their employer given the opportunity. Employee theft can be especially damaging to small businesses with fewer reserves, with employee theft playing a role in 33 percent of all business bankruptcies. In order to minimize the risk of employee theft, businesses need to implement systems that discourage fraud and theft. Private investigators recommends that businesses conduct background checks of potential employees, especially those who are being considered for a position that involves handling money. Prospective employees should also fill out job applications, which can highlight gaps in employment better than a resume. Low-cost video surveillance cameras are also useful in deterring employee theft and identifying which employees are stealing from the business. All thefts should be reported to the authorities in order to create a pattern of theft that can be vital in winning a criminal case. Employers should implement a zero tolerance policy for any form of theft, including the theft of office supplies. Experts suggest that businesses review the policy with employees at least once a year and hire an independent party to conduct regular audits of the company’s financial records.
(go to web site)
Recent Comments