Author Topic: Another US Government Computer Hacked (Read 4452 times)

pendragon · « **on:** June 11, 2006, 05:48:52 AM »

A hacker stole a file containing the names and Social Security numbers of 1,500 people.

And oh yeah, the theft occurred last September, but because of a “misunderstanding”, the theft was not made public until earlier this month.

Sleep tight, the US’ nuclear secrets are safe…

Details Here

kbeartx · « **Reply #1 on:** June 11, 2006, 06:01:22 AM »

QUOTE(pendragon @ Jun 11 2006, 05:48 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sleep tight, the US’ nuclear secrets are safe…

Uh, didn't you misspell that?

Shouldn't it be nook-you-ler?

kimmer · « **Reply #2 on:** June 11, 2006, 11:17:05 AM »

So how do we stop this stuff? It's happens on a daily basis anymore and it's scary. Is there any way to protect our identities when all these companies have this info and apparently NO ONE is secure?

Plus, our legislators have yet to pass any kind of ID protection laws, so if you are a victim, tough beans baby.

sandbox · « **Reply #3 on:** June 11, 2006, 11:32:45 AM »

We need a comprehensive fireWALL to prevent Social Security #'s from breaching the Levi's,

containing a would-be stream of overwhelming chaos of Who's on first.... (no What's on first), Who's on second uncertainties, otherwise know as the Abbott and Costello syndrome.

or

If there is no social security, why do we need a number?
We should sell our useless numbers and test a Guess Worker program.

Then all things being equal, your Guess would be as good as mine.

This make sense to me, doesn't it?

LR827 · « **Reply #4 on:** June 11, 2006, 12:24:46 PM »

QUOTE(sandbox @ Jun 11 2006, 11:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This make sense to me, doesn't it?

Uh-oh, the TS police are gonna getchew fer that...

Regarding Social Security numbers, I agree completely. They are only useful to crooks because they have been imbued with so much significance. We need to stop using them for identification, except for tax forms.

Now, this cannot be that far out: What about a built-in device to scan a thumbprint? How difficult would that be to build into the next generation of computers? I'm serious.

kbeartx · « **Reply #5 on:** June 11, 2006, 05:04:00 PM »

QUOTE(sandbox @ Jun 11 2006, 11:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

We need a comprehensive fireWALL to prevent Social Security #'s from breaching the Levi's...This make sense to me, doesn't it?

FYI, Levi's are a type of clothing

Levees are those mounds the Army Corps of Engineers builds around rivers to prevent flooding.

And it either makes sense to you or it doesn't, I have no way of knowing

-KB

sokukodo · « **Reply #6 on:** June 11, 2006, 08:26:33 PM »

I just got a letter from the Secretary of Veterans Affairs letting me know that names, social security numbers and dates of birth for up to 26.5 million veterans and some spouses were stolen.

Gregg · « **Reply #7 on:** June 11, 2006, 08:33:59 PM »

QUOTE(kbeartx @ Jun 11 2006, 05:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

FYI, Levi's are a type of clothing

Levees are those mounds the Army Corps of Engineers builds around rivers to prevent flooding.

-KB

But there's no tie-in between levees and Guess.

kbeartx · « **Reply #8 on:** June 11, 2006, 08:39:17 PM »

The Govt's [and other Companies'] response to these types of things seems to me nothing more than noisily closing the barn door, after the cows have escaped.

Another thought - since so many entities seem to have so much difficulty securing the data with which they've been entrusted, maybe it's time to look at the other end of the problem - that stolen data is too easy to use to impersonate someone, to whatever end, and 'lock-down' the use of this data.

krissel · « **Reply #9 on:** June 11, 2006, 10:55:11 PM »

QUOTE(LR827 @ Jun 11 2006, 01:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

What about a built-in device to scan a thumbprint? How difficult would that be to build into the next generation of computers? I'm serious.

Here you go:

Thinkpad

But:

QUOTE

This thumbprint reader on laptops and desktops is the most visible biometric security solution today in production networks. Is it a failsafe solution though? Hardly - there have already been concerns over the simplicity of lifting someone’s thumbprint off of a glass, or a piece of gum for that matter. The funny thing is that if you ask many of the vendors for these biometric solutions they will tell you that they are not security devices in and of themselves. Think about it now. All it really takes is for an attacker to simply crack open the laptop or desktop, and extract the hard drive. With this low tech attack the biometric access control has been neatly side stepped. You really must, as mentioned, use this biometric technology with other layered security solutions. Encrypting the entire hard drive comes readily to mind, whether it be through a power/on or power/off solution.

I don't trust these things because when I was teaching I would have cracked and split fingers in the winter from all the gook I had to handle and all the hand washing. Imagine getting locked out of your own computer.

You could go one step further and have some crook cut off your finger in order to access an account. Nope, I'd rather they take my ID some other way.

kelly · « **Reply #10 on:** June 11, 2006, 11:15:32 PM »

Neutrogena Hand Cream. Can't be beat.

krissel · « **Reply #11 on:** June 11, 2006, 11:21:08 PM »

Yes, it can.

I retired.

kelly · « **Reply #12 on:** June 11, 2006, 11:26:05 PM »

There's still yard work and such.

krissel · « **Reply #13 on:** June 12, 2006, 03:00:29 AM »

Gloves.

kbeartx · « **Reply #14 on:** June 12, 2006, 04:24:55 AM »

QUOTE(krissel @ Jun 12 2006, 03:00 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Gloves.

Your hands get all messed-up by all that polishing you do to the TS Graphic - I mean, EVERY time I look at you, you're buffing that thing!

- KB

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Author Topic: Another US Government Computer Hacked (Read 4452 times)