UK company waits 3 months to report stolen consumer data
November 19, 2006
Another disturbing example about how companies fail to protect consumer data and even worse, fail to acknowledge it after it has happened. The BBC reports that Nationwide, Britain’s biggest building society, acknowledged the theft of an employee’s laptop containing information on 11 million customers.
While names and account numbers were among the data stolen, the company claims that PIN and passwords were not.
Peter Wood, IT security expert: “The chat rooms many people use are full of people trading credit card details online in real time at all hours of the day and night.”
“The employee who had the laptop stolen may not have been acting in accordance with Nationwide security policy, the building society said.”
“Businesses really need to be asking themselves whether employees need to be carrying around sensitive customer data like bank account details on a laptop.”
Related Links:
Roland Reinhart is an interactive marketing professional concerned about how companies handle personally identifiable information. His observations can be found at Chaos365.com and AdMadMan.com.
©2006 Roland Reinhart. All Rights Reserved.
Tips to fight comment spam on your WordPress blog
November 17, 2006
Do you publish a WordPress blog? Then please check out my article: “Tips to stop blog comment spam on WordPress blogs“.
I think I’ve provided a good list of comment spam prevention tips, especially for new WordPress blog publishers who are getting frustrated by ridiculous comment spam posted by spambots and spammers.
Enjoy.
-Roland
Article: Kevin Mitnick’s security tips
November 15, 2006
Wired published security tips by Kevin Mitnick. He was notorious in the 1990’s for exposing electronic security flaws committed by many businesses and was ultimately prosecuted for his actions. He attained cult status (“Free Kevin”) in the geek community and on his release from prison, was initially not allowed to use computers or access the Internet.
Mitnick’s actions raised awareness of security flaws and risks. Ironically, he now runs his own security consulting firm.
You’ve probably heard many of these security tips before, but he encourages more stringent steps than many of us probably take. It’s good advice. Definitely check it out.
-Roland
Greeting cards for men
November 14, 2006
Countless times I’ve stared blankly at rows of insanely boring greeting cards trying to find the least flowery card to buy. (I use the same strategy for voting at election time — I exercise my right to pick the lesser of two evils.)
It’s hard enough to figure out a few, manly words to write inside, without having to settle on lousy designs and messages.
In my head, I envision the worst workplaces on Earth must be greeting card sweat chops where former English majors toil at desks to come up with mile after mile of insane dribble. Failure ensures the wrath of being whipped by a ruthless grammar task master.
If it was up to me, I’d design greeting cards with rugged exteriors — brushed steel or recycled rubber tire treads. Plus useful features. Open it up and a flame ignites. Or a card that doubles as a universal TV remote.
Come on, don’t you think that special lady would appreciate a circuit board card that said something like:
“You electify me”
“You complete me” (complete the circuit, get it?)
Okay, I guess that’s why I work in marketing. Until my dream is is given life, I may have to settle for the stylings of the Nutz and Boltz Card Co., which produces a line of greeting cards specifically designed for men. Their goal is to reduce the angst of men such as myself who dread looking for greeting cards.
Hope you find this useful.
-Roland
Roland Reinhart is an interactive marketing professional. His observations can be found at Chaos365.com and AdMadMan.com.
©2006 Roland Reinhart. All Rights Reserved.
Laughter
November 8, 2006
Scenario: Client wants it tomorrow.
Your reaction…
Happy Wednesday!
Article: Starbucks loses laptops with data on 60,000 employees
November 5, 2006
USA Today reports: Starbucks loses laptops with data on 60,000 employees
Starbucks (SBUX) said Friday it has lost track of four laptop computers, two of which had private information on about 60,000 current and former U.S. employees and fewer than 80 Canadian workers and contractors.
The data, which include names, addresses and Social Security numbers, is from before December 2003.
The company has not received any reports that anyone’s personal information has been compromised.
“We have no reason to believe these laptops are in the hands of someone who wants to misuse them.”
Even if the data was misplaced, it is still disturbing that the company can lose personally identifiable information on roughly 8% of their global work force.
-Roland
Related Links:
Roland Reinhart is an interactive marketing professional concerned about how companies handle personally identifiable information. His observations can be found at Chaos365.com and AdMadMan.com.
©2006 Roland Reinhart. All Rights Reserved.
Article: PC reseller charged over ID theft of employee data
November 4, 2006
News.com reports: PC reseller charged over ID theft of employee data
The owner of Compulinx Managed Services, and his nephew were indicted this week on fraud and conspiracy charges. The pair allegedly falsified information on applications for loans, credit cards and credit lines, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
The defendants allegedly used Compulinx employees’ and customers’ personal information, such as their social security numbers and addresses, to obtain such financing. The computer reseller in White Plains, N.Y., allegedly ran up more than $100,000 in unauthorized credit card charges.
It’s bad enough that you have to worry about whether someone you buy from might steal your identity. But in this case, the employer committed fraud using his own employee’s data in addition to that of his customers.
-Roland
Roland Reinhart is an interactive marketing professional concerned about how companies handle personally identifiable information. His observations can be found at Chaos365.com and AdMadMan.com.
©2006 Roland Reinhart. All Rights Reserved.
Jack Black Piracy PSA
November 3, 2006
Jack Black appeals to youth with this Public Service Announcement on video and audio piracy…
Excerpts:
No cash, no inspiration.
No inspiration, no rocket sauce.
No rocket sauce, no Kick-ass rock ‘n roll and videos.Don’t be a douche. Stop piracy.
New Line produced this. At least they are appealing to the youth market in a way the audience can relate.
More Altered Reality
November 1, 2006
For those of you who still believe everything they see, this video provides more proof that pictures do lie.
“Though Dove’s spot for the 2006 Super Bowl resulted in almost 500 million impressions before and after the big game, one commercial seeded on YouTube has generated more than 1.5 million views.”
The Dove campaign began in Canada in 2004, then Europe, before making its way to the U.S. It’s actually refreshing to see a company take a marketing approach that respects the consumer. This is not the first campaign to do so, but it’s huge for the cosmetics industry. We need more efforts to embrace the fact humans are mostly imperfect creatures.
Productivity tip for the week: Play up your good qualities and play down your imperfections. Become more comfortable with who you are.
Related links:
Dove’s Campaign for Real Beauty
Revisionist History: Alter your personal reality
Roland Reinhart is an interactive marketing professional. His observations can be found at Chaos365.com and AdMadMan.com.
©2006 Roland Reinhart. All Rights Reserved.
