Candid Cameras
The videoconferencing systems being used by banks and law firms can sometimes be switched on remotely by a hacker, giving access to any information discussed within the cameras' range, The New York Times
Cyber Crime
Fraudsters
Bad Call
It is possible to steal a consumer's online banking password just by dialing their smartphone, according to a Georgia Tech Research Institute engineer interviewed by The New York Times
New Recruits
The tool that was used to attack financial websites in retaliation for cutting off payments to WikiLeaks has been adapted in a way that could pin new Web attacks on innocent people, Wired.com
Health Plan
If the health care system begins assigning universal patient identifiers to each patient, it may cut the risk of identity theft by reducing that industry's reliance on Social Security numbers and other financial data to link to health records, The Wall Street Journal
Bad Habit
Retailers may want to cut the amount of customer information they habitually collect.
Law & Order
In March, the last part of a 2010 Massachusetts data breach law will take effect, requiring all companies that handle data on the state's residents to ensure that it is properly protected by any third parties they deal with, Computerworld
Hard Lesson
Arizona State University took its computer systems offline Jan. 19 to address a security breach. A hacker obtained an encrypted file with the user names and passwords of the system employees and students use to access school information, The Arizona Republic
Speak Up
Voice biometrics