Information security analytics

In the face of rapidly evolving e-commerce and new methods of payment all over the world, user-friendly and agile online stores are now at high risk when processing personal and payment data of their customers. This is a digest of leaks from online stores prepared by InfoWatch Analytical Center.

French weekly news magazine L'Express left a server containing a database of its readers exposed online for weeks without a password, ZDNet reports. Even after the Paris-based magazine was warned of the exposure, the database wasn't secured for another month, leaving its contents accessible and downloadable by anyone, including hackers that made several attempts to ransom the data.

People are the weakest link in any corporate information security system, with soon-to-be-former employees being the biggest threat. A failure to block their access to corporate systems may result in truly grave consequences, as ex-employees can leak confidential data for personal gain, out of revenge, under pressure, or simply by accident. This is a digest of such leaks prepared by InfoWatch Analytical Center.

A group of security researchers led by Bryan Krebs revealed a fraudulent scheme on the website CreatSpace of company Amazon. Unknown attackers on behalf of the writers placed on the resource fake e-books, then bought them from themselves, using credit cards, and then withdrew royalties.

Tesla’s cloud account was hacked and used to mine cryptocurrency, according to a security research firm.

Biometric parameters (fingerprints, iris, voice, etc.) are more and more often used to identify a person and grant access to various services. Compared to traditional personal data compromising, biometric data leaks from centralized storages cause even graver consequences and, hence, are summarized by InfoWatch Analytical Center here separately.

Jeff Smith and fianceé Diana Peters of Canby were surprised to learn that their private photos, including some nude shots, ended up on the new cellphone of an elderly stranger last week. When they found out, Smith went to a Verizon Wireless store in Molalla to ask what happened, but got the runaround, he alleges in a federal lawsuit.

Regional authorities handle huge amounts of information about their employees and local citizens, thus attracting cybercriminals who now often use phishing emails to steal such data, especially in tax season. Regional authorities handle huge amounts of information about their employees and local citizens, thus attracting cybercriminals who now often use phishing emails to steal such data, especially in tax season.

The loss of state secrets poses an extreme threat to national security, with spies, hackers, disloyal or negligent employees usually being behind them.

A Swiss mobile phone operator has admitted its data systems were breached late last year and the contact details of about 800,000 customers were compromised, The International Business Times reports.