No one needs any reminding about the constant risks and dangers people are always exposed to as they go about their daily lives. They are many and they are always lurking around waiting for an opportune moment to strike us dead. That is, perhaps why personal injury lawyers have continued to amass vast amounts of fortunes in recent years.

People everywhere realize the need and importance of having the services of qualified personal injury lawyers in case they ran into an accident or a mishap. Personal injury lawyers advise them on their rights, their options when they end up at the hospital with a broken leg or worse, when they lose a loved one as they work.

Landing yourself a quality and affordable personal injury lawyer is no longer a hard thing. It is actually an easy undertaking provided you know how to go about it. Nowadays, most of the attorneys that offer personal injury services can be found on the web. With a few clicks, you will be offered free consultations to determine whether you are entitled to disability claims and if so, how much would the sum be.

How safe is it to provide my personal injury lawyer our personal information? An important part of the entire process undertaken by the soliciting attorneys involves phishing for your personal information. Information that is normally protected and kept out of public view for instance, your medical records, your social work paper records, your housing, and even your credit card records.

In order for them to build up a formidable case on your behalf, they then require to know what has been going on in your life – no holds barred. The client authorizes them to access these kinds of documents by signing and agreeing to some laid out terms and conditions. In the unfortunate event that the person is dead and therefore it is not possible to get a written agreement then there is the alternative option of requesting some of the documents from the court for use in the proceedings.

Of course as you would expect, all of this information that the attorneys have is private and confidential. They should do all that is within their power and abilities to ensure that it does not get into the arms of outsiders. If it is leaked, it has the real potential of damaging or ruining our lives. The personal injury lawyers may also be held responsible by the law to safeguard all clients’ information that passes through their hands. Failure to do so may expose them to malpractice lawsuits. Another important thing to mention is the charges. The charges for extracting and eventually modifying any personal records are fixed in most states. There is a fixed, standing charge for expunging false medical records or for any other personal injury related process.

If you would need to consult, you may go online now so you may be able to see the list of personal injury lawyers that can help you in your case. Look for those who are certified and verified and you will never again have to worry. Worrying about getting into an accident while at work and not getting any compensation whatsoever from your employers will surely be out of your mind.

Internet data security is most important not only for big search engine companies, but also for individuals like us. In line with the growth and progress of the internet, there are also internet related crimes that can put not only our files at risk, but also ourselves and our identity. It would be wise to always consider the legal aspects of internet data security so that we may be guided accordingly and so we may know how to defend ourselves in case we become victims of internet related crimes.

  • Online Account Phishing

Phishing is the attempt by an individual or group to collect or gather sensitive information like passwords, usernames, as well as other details like Social Security Number, birthday, and even credit card and bank details. This was even made easier online since many people are still unaware of the schemes and tactics used for online phishing. Another reason why many people still fall for online account phishing is because of the deceiving and legit looking documents sent online and on websites. This is one of a dangerous threat to anyone’s internet data security.

Online account phishing can be done through keylogging softwares that record what you are typing or websites and emails that ask you directly for information in exchange for money or items. Most often, for the latter, they pretend to be legit companies. In this case, internet data security is at risk, but you can do something to legally fight for what is right. Internet lawyers can help in the process of collecting evidence and tracing the perpetrators so justice may be served.

  • Malwares and Viruses

Malwares and viruses have the capability to damage our gadgets and storage systems. They also have the capability to destroy all of our files especially important ones hence endangering internet data security. In some cases, these files are intentionally sent to people in order to destroy some important files. These malwares and viruses can also be used to hack and pry on files and get backdoor access to them. This can also happen on websites to phish for the members’ information. These compromise the internet data security of many websites, social networks, companies, and the likes. Though internet lawyers may not be able to give you solutions with malwares and viruses on the system that you have, they can help you find the culprits as well as file for a case regarding this.

  • Online Fraud

Another internet data security danger is online fraud. Online fraud includes a certain person assuming the identity of another through the information they were able to get from phishing. Some people commit online fraud crimes to purchase items from online stores or use credit card information to recreate the credit card and then buy or pay for items from brick and mortar stores. This is one of the most common online crimes happening today. Many internet lawyers are already experts in helping victims solve this kind of case and it is best advised to immediately ask for assistance regarding this internet data security crime.

Immigration attorneys, and all other attorneys for that matter, are expected to safeguard and protect the valuable private information that is entrusted to them by their clients. The law makes it crystal clear that if an immigration attorney is as careless as to lose or to divulge this private information, then they should be tried and prosecuted. In order to protect themselves, the immigration attorneys are going through extreme lengths to make sure that their clients’ information stays safe and secure.

The world is full of people who need and require expert legal representations for immigration related matters. Concerns like the application for Visas for both individuals and for big businesses as well, are best handled by the professionals.

With the global economy still reeling from the hangovers and hiccups, many people are looking to start a new life in different locations. They have decided to move to distant places to chase lucrative jobs and live a good life. But, as some find out the hard way, it really pays to have made extensive consultations with their immigration attorneys first.

The immigration attorneys will offer the individual the best possible guidance and advice on how to go about relocating to a new place. Their timely advice and wise counsel have the real potential of saving you tons of money and pain in both the short and in the long term.

To make sure that you are at no risk whatsoever of dealing with amateurs, then it is imperative you pick a law firm with some solid credentials. Do not simply go for the cheapest immigration lawyer out there. You might just be aiming to save a few bucks only to get up in deep trouble. For instance, imagine the damage that you would incur if your companies operational details were leaked to an opponent all no thanks to your immigration attorneys. It would be disastrous, to say the very least and chances are that all your efforts and energy would end up going down the drain. Take care and only deal with verified, ethical firms.

What Can Immigration Attorneys Do to Safeguard Sensitive Client Data? As an immigration attorney, however, there are a couple of measures you can take to avoid such kinds of mishaps. Most of the attorneys nowadays have a tendency of carrying their clients’ privileged data on their handheld devices and gadgets. In as much as it is a convenience as they can take their jobs on the road with them, it only comes with some risks. The laptops and the iPhones can get stolen or lost at any given time and they may end up in the hands of criminals.

As a precaution, always make sure that your devices have safety protocols to deter third parties. In other words, try and invest in technology that encrypts your personal data from hackers, invest in anti-virus software for your laptops, use strong passwords and if you really want to keep your info safe then why not use file encryption softwares. Learn about other really neat and effective means and ways immigration attorneys use to protect the clients valuable data and stay safe always.

As many as there are people having access to the internet, numerous activities like businesses, social networking, researching, gaming, and the likes are being done online. It is in this light that people should ensure their own data security online especially when sending out sensitive or important information like social security numbers, bank account numbers, birthdays, and credit card information. Here are some ways on how you can ensure data security when surfing online.

 

At all cost, avoid sending out sensitive data through your email.

Enforce data security online by not sending any sensitive information through your email. There are numerous cases when people receive emails asking for their personal information. These emails are even claiming that you win a large sum of money or that you are specially picked out and won a raffle. These emails may just be fake and would just want to phish out your information and use it for their own sake. These emails would even look legit, but always be observant and make a research to promote your own data security. It is also good to know that legitimate companies will not ask sensitive information via email.

 

Ensure data security by not entering any sensitive information that can jeopardize you in pop up ads or suspicious looking websites.

Sometimes, pop up ads are one way for hackers to phish out information from you. Avoid entering sensitive information on this even if the pop up ad came from a trusted website. There are times that these pop up ads are not associated with the website. You can either contact the owner of the site to confirm if this pop up ad is actually theirs or just totally leave it out. Avoid suspicious looking websites as well. It is always good to know and remember the actual web addresses of the sites that you are often used so you will not be fooled by hackers. Inspect the web addresses of suspicious websites and search if the official web address of a certain site or company is the same. Be vigilant and ensure data security.

 

More and more people are now depending on the internet for many different things. Some people use it for researching. Some use it for purchasing items and others use it for business purposes. Because of this, there are also a lot of different legal issues that may arise, which include, but are not limited to defamation, libel, cybersquatting, and online theft. In this light, legal actions should also be done so that proper justice may be served. Internet lawyers are our best bet in this kind of situations.

What are Internet Lawyers?

Internet lawyers, as constrasted with a personal injury attorney or immigration attorney,  are people who specialize in cyber related laws. These people know and understand these laws. They also have a solid foundation in terms of the internet technology as well as the backend processes and systems. When selecting among the many available internet lawyers, it is a must for your chosen lawyer to have a strong work experience in this technological field.

How Can Internet Lawyers Help You with Your Case?

Optimizing your website for search engines may lead to intellectual property issues.

Whether you are doing SEO or search engine optimization for your websites or running a company that does that, you may already be facing legal issues when you thought you are just helping your websites top the search engine results. Internet lawyers can help you in determining what is and what is not allowable in terms of using another person or group’s intellectual property. These lawyers will be able to prevent you from incurring liabilities that can just stunt your business growth or your website’s progress and even cost you some money.

Using other people’s blog content, video, or picture can cause copyright infringement.

Sometimes in our effort to produce articles or websites of great value, we utilize videos, pictures, and information from other people’s blog contents or articles. However, if you are unaware of some laws governing the proper usage of other people’s videos, pictures, and articles, you may be facing a legal issue on copyright infringement. Internet lawyers can help brief you if you are subjecting yourself to copyright infringement. Though you can find this information online, internet lawyers can give you a detailed assessment and advice about this.

If you are facing a dreadful situation where other people may be the offending party, you can always rely on the expert assistance of internet lawyers.

There would also be times, when you are the law-abiding citizen and other people may be the offending party. They may be violating the copyright infringement law regarding the video you posted, the image you uploaded, the article that you have written, or the software that you created. There may also be other times when a certain person or group may be violating your intellectual property rights. In these cases, you can rely on asking for assistance from internet lawyers to get things straight. These people can help you in determining what other laws were violated and what should be done to the offending party. They will be able to help you all the way, from contacting the offending party up to filing documents with the court.

It is very important that we are aware of all the cyber laws existing. These will serve as our guidelines in building up a reputable website or online company. It is also important to ask assistance from experts that can correct us if we misread or misinterpreted something that we have read about cyber laws.

E-commerce (or electronic commerce) is the term used to denote a commercial (usually contractual) transaction that takes place between two or more people using the communications infrastructure known as the Internet. The first thing to note is that there is a range of e-commerce transactions, the following of which are examples: •  the purchase by an individual of a book from a commercial website such as that run by Amazon.com •  the ordering by Company A of office stationery from Company B’s website •  the exchange of e-mails between two persons whereby it is agreed that a certain service will be carried out by one party in exchange for a fee from the other.

Sellers would be exposed to regulation in every state in which their Web sites are accessible. Although complying with multiple rules may be costly for any business, it is arguably particularly so for a Web site vender that presents buyers with a single interface on their Internet pages. The real problem with state regulation of the Internet, however, is not that multiple states might regulate a given transaction but rather how the regulating state is selected. As long as state regulation does not require inconsistent acts—such as some states prohibiting disclosures that other states require—venders can protect themselves by complying with the most rigorous state law that a court or regulator might apply. The problem is that, under open-ended default conflict of law and jurisdiction rules, the courts decide which state’s law applies ex post, after a dispute arises, rather than ex ante, at the time of entering into the transaction. This uncertainty over what law will apply ex post can negate state law’s advantage of offering a variety of regulatory alternatives by impeding parties’ ability to choose the law that is most efficient or that best fits their situation.

The law does not currently recognize an e-commerce transaction as being inherently different from a non e-commerce transaction. However, due to the online nature of e-commerce, particular aspects of the law apply differently where a transaction takes place online. As far as e-commerce businesses are concerned, defamation is a small risk, but it is a risk that should be guarded against. The important thing to bear in mind is that generally the e-business will be liable for any defamatory material that appears on its site, whether or not that material derives from the e-business itself. Thus the risk is most pronounced where the business includes material on its site that has been supplied by third parties (such as a rolling news service, or a `user comment’ section). In the contract for the supply of such material (if there is one) the e-business should take a warranty that nothing contained in it is defamatory. This should be backed up by an indemnity to compensate the e-business where it suffers loss as a result of publishing a defamatory statement.

E–businesses commonly use third party materials in the design or content of their websites. This may arise because an e-business engages a web designer to produce the website, or it may be that material from another website or other third party source is used for the site content. In every case where material is used that derives from a source other than the e-business itself, it is vital to ensure that permission exists for such use. Failure to do so leaves the e-business open to an action for infringement of copyright or database right.

The internet has become quite useful today not only with adults, but also with young children. It can be used to research for their assignments as well as serve as another educational tool that can amplify their skills and talents. However, as sad as it can be, the internet can also be quite harmful to young minds especially if parents are not supervising their kids when using it. A good selection of internet security for kids can ease up any parents mind knowing that they will be able to control and manage what their children will be able to see on the internet such as what websites they can go to, social networks they can join in, and even what games they can play. Here are some aspects that a good internet security for kids should have.

Aspects to Look for to Ensure Proper Internet Security for Kids

When looking for a good security system or software it is important to keep some basic aspects in mind. Essentially, a proper security for children who often go online should have parental limiting or managing capabilities. Other features can include anti-bullying software as well.

  • A good internet security should be able to help in limiting access to internet searches and specific websites like social media sites as well as games and other programs.
  • A good security online should be able to filter or weed out harmful websites, videos, images, and even chats.
  • A good internet security should be able to provide reports regarding the latest internet activities.
  • A good security online should be able to disable downloading and installing of unwanted softwares or programs.
  • Optionally, it should have a software against cyber bullying that help avoid threatening activities online.
  • Other internet security softwares also include word or phrase blocking and time rules.

Many people would say that internet security is important, but not all people are really acquainted with what it is. Internet security is a system used to protect files, information on computers as well as the computer’s health itself. With the internet users growing in number day by day, every individual or business utilizing the internet is at risk from threats like malware, worms, viruses, and other scams online. It is because of this that internet security must be used and enhanced on every computer.

Common Threats May Be Prevented with a Proper Security There are many common threats that may be avoided and prevented with the different features that internet securities have. Some internet security systems have firewalls, which help in blocking unauthorized or unlawful access of servers and computers. Some features also include browser protection against pop up ads that phish for information, malicious codes, and adware. Proper security also includes antivirus protection that blocks malware, spyware, and virus.

Password Protection: Another Internet Security for Added Protection Aside from the other features that internet security systems have, strong password protection can also be considered as a good means of security online. A strong password should be used in all the online transactions where you need to log in. Also try using different password each time. Regularly update your password as well. This will help prevent hacked accounts and cyber thievery of your information or files. A strong password is made up of numbers and letters with both upper and lower case characters. If allowed, add symbols on your password as well. Avoid using your name, nickname, birthday, or other information that can be easily known or guessed.

Internet security is a serious matter that we should always give importance to. It will help us prevent any stolen information as well as lost files or data.

There are people out there who get their data stolen or have their servers or website crashing because of hackers. The hacking can be as simple as slowing your system or stealing minor information up to totally wiping out all your files with the inclusion of identity fraud. A good way on actually increasing your chances of strengthening data security and avoiding these unfortunate instances is by managing your passwords better. Here are some tips on how you can avoid the entire ruckus and strengthen your data security through strong passwords.

• No matter how much of a hassle it is, a dual layer of security is always better. This dual layer of security can be seen on many online accounts such as Google Mail, Yahoo Mail, Dropbox, and even Facebook. This set up is called a two-factor authentication. This kind of authentication allows you to log in to your account after typing in your password as well as another code sent to your cellphone via text messaging or calling. This may sound like an extra hassle, but this extra measure of data security will go a long way as you hackers will have a very difficult time getting in your account since they will not have access to the code sent to you.

• Never use weak, common, or easy passwords. These kinds of passwords are easily deciphered by hackers and cyber criminals and they just contribute to a weak data security method. These passwords are usually your birthday in numbers, your family’s birthdays or other important dates, your nickname, your favorite word, and the likes. An effective and strong password should be a minimum of six to eight characters and is a combination of symbols, numbers, and letters.

• Recycling waste is good, but not in passwords. Recycling waste products is good for the environment; however it is not good when it comes to passwords. This is a big no-no since this will weaken your data security, which can lead to easy access on your files. Though using the same password for all your accounts would be hassle-free, it will also allow hackers to open up all those accounts once they get a hold of your password. Reusing a password will just make your data security vulnerable to cyber criminals.

Though hosting and email companies are already doing their share in enhancing your data security, it would be up to you to further heighten the protection. Instead of putting your accounts at risk, do take some precautionary measures no matter how troublesome it takes.

When running a business, especially an online business, you have to take care of a lot of things aside from the brand and the product itself. Like how you would secure and guard a brick and mortar store, you should also secure your online business. This can be done by means of improving internet security. There are many benefits that your business can take advantage of with a good dose of internet security.

 

  • Decreased Occurrences of Cyber Thievery

All types of businesses online are at risk of experiencing cyber thievery. Without a trusted internet security on your servers or computers, it is like giving an open invitation as well as easy access to internet criminals. Big businesses online know about this, but small and medium-sized entrepreneurs mostly do not have any decent internet security. Business without proper security online allows hackers to steal sensitive information like tax data, client or member information, and social security numbers. When opening up a business, even if it is still a small one, it would be wise to set aside some time and budget for an excellent security online.

 

  • Strict Protection from Viruses and Malwares

Aside from cyber thievery, a good internet security can help to prevent viruses and malware from injecting themselves or even running on your computer. When running an online business, your number one tool is your computer and when viruses and malware attack your computer, you are putting all your files at risk as well as all the other information saved on your computer. Depending on the virus or malware, these unhelpful things can slow down your computer, crash it, or even track information that you type in through keylogging softwares. In this light, you may experience business downtime and a business downtime will equate to lost revenues.

 

Internet security is also a prime need that many small and medium-sized entrepreneurs take for granted. However, it is this very same internet security that can ensure a continuous business venture.

In this digital age, we cannot blame some people who would love to store all their information or do several activities online, whether through their email or through their social networking accounts. This can also be said true to business owners who store sensitive customer information on their online servers. This information can range from simple names and contact information to more sensitive data like credit card number, passwords, bank account information, and many others. Unfortunately, there may be instances when data security is breached – it is possible. The good thing about this though, is that it can be avoided – it is very possible.

Data security breach can be avoided and so are other cybercrimes like hacked accounts, information theft, and the likes. Here are some techniques that you can do to avoid data security breaches. • Invest some cash on the best data protection in the market. This is especially useful if you are running a business. You would always want to invest in a high quality data security system so you may effectively protect the information entrusted to you. This will also help in avoiding further mishaps like identity theft, money or data wipe out on online accounts, and the likes. A good data security system should be able to detect, block, and remove viruses. It should also be able to detect phishing softwares that would steal information without you knowing it. You can even take this a step further by discussing or assessing what possible vulnerabilities your server, computer, or website is exposed to and from there you should be able to select the finest data protection in the market.

• Manage or control what other people can do on your computer. There may be times when other people are using your computer. In these times, your computer becomes vulnerable and may incur viruses. Similarly, you may be lending your computer to your employees and they may not be as careful as you are in preventing data security breach. These people may be consciously or unconsciously downloading unauthorized files, viruses, or even transfer data from work to their computers at home. In these cases, you can just manage or control what these people can do on the computer. You can deactivate USB ports and drivers so file transfer may be eliminated. You may also block email sending outside of work. You may also block file downloading and installing so that only IT personnel can do it. If you know these people will not be downloading or installing any harmful files, you can just be vigilant in informing them about strengthening their passwords for increased data security.

• Avoid providing sensitive information to people that you do not know. This is quite simple, but is often neglected. Avoid providing any information to people that you do not know. You should also not provide any information via email or text messages. If they really need this information, they would do it in a professional way and not through online means. Do not put any sensitive information on pop ads as well. You can never be too sure. This might be means of phishing information from you.

Data security breach may seem to be a tough case to handle, but if you will be careful enough as well as put some time in establishing a solid data security system, breach can be avoided.

The internet is a big venue for various activities. You can make a living online, build a business, socialize with people around the world, and do many other activities. In this large venue where many people all meet, it would be very important to use good internet security. Internet security helps protect not only the computer and the files that we have on it, but also the information that we send and receive online. Not known to many people, internet security can also help in protecting our identity from being stolen by others along with other sensitive information. Here are the other important reasons why using internet security is a must.

• Protection Against Identity Theft Identity theft is probably one of the most dangerous cyber crimes being experienced by many people today. This mainly involves stealing of sensitive personal information like social security numbers, credit card numbers, bank account numbers, and other information that can be useful in stealing your identity. Without a proper and trusted internet security system, a person may not only be stolen of their identity, but also of their hard earned money.

• Protection from Worms, Viruses, and Other Malicious Softwares There thousands of worms, viruses, and other malware released online. These malicious softwares are made to steal information, damage your computer or servers, as well as crash your system. With an excellent internet security installed in your computer, you will be able to block these malware from installing themselves on your computer system or even detect them if they already got in. You will also be able to protect yourself from keylogging malware that can steal any information that you type. Moving on, you will be able to protect your computer, your files, and your information.

• Protection Set for Young or Minor Internet Users One other harmful thing that can happen online involves young individuals like children and minors. There are some people on the web that may stalk your children or lead them to go to websites where they should not be. There are also some people with hidden motives who may even attempt to meet up with a minor. This can be very dangerous. There are some internet security systems that can help in limiting what children will be able to search as well as what websites they can visit. With this parent managing method, you can be assured that your minors are protected from ill-thinking individuals.

It is wise to invest in good internet security measures like anti-spyware and antivirus as well as other security measures with limiting capabilities. Though this will not totally block off any online threats, it will greatly help in monitoring them and decreasing their occurrence. Each time you use your computer and/or go online, you are putting your files as well as the information that you will send at risk. However, with an effective set of internet security measures, you will be able to steer clear from online risks and threats as well as protect your computer and yourself.

 

The dissolution of a marriage whether it contested or not, is a matter that requires utmost confidentiality. The details of which are expected, even as per the guidelines of the law, to remain between you and your divorcee and/or family law lawyers.

As a client, you are entitled to your security and confidentiality at all times. If you feel that the information that you divulged to your divorce attorneys has been disclosed in any way then you are supposed to open legal proceedings against them. In other words, you should sue them for breach of confidence which is a malpractice as well.

At this point and stage, one would ask, what the dangers of losing someone’s private information are. Well, picture this, you have evidence of your spouse cheating or having an affair with another woman and you tell it to your divorce lawyers so that they can build a case for you. What if this evidence was then leaked out and your spouse got to know about it and then proceeded to cover his tracks? The answer, dear reader, is that you will be left without a solid case for your divorce petition.

To make sure that they are not faced with numerous lawsuits, the divorce attorneys will put into place all the measures necessary to safeguard your private information. For instance, you will now find that practically all of them have state of the art laptops, iPhones and other gizmos wherein they store the clients’ data. The same devices happen to have cutting edge security enhancing softwares installed to try and deter the efforts of hackers and other intruders. Some divorce attorneys go to the extremes of having them fitted with file encryption technology, just so that they make sure that they do not expose themselves to harm’s way with the lawsuits.

Effective and honest divorce and family lawyers value the confidence and trust that you give them and will only use any information you provide for your interest.

 

When it comes to the internet, we should not be so trusting and relaxed as we must face that not all people would have good and honest intentions when dealing with us or doing some activities online. In light with this, it would be more prudent to use an effective internet security system, but what is internet security?

Internet security is a system dealing with threats and risks related to or brought about by the internet. These threats and risks may include, but is not limited to self-installing or injecting viruses and malware that damage or crash your system as well as key-log your activities; hacking where there are users illegally accessing your system or computer, websites, emails, and the likes; and identity theft where hackers or information phishing individuals collect your information by pretending to be someone legitimate and then using your information for purchasing items and pretending to be you. These identity thieves may collect anywhere from your name, social security number, bank account information, and credit card numbers. These and many more are the very things that you can protect yourself from with a strong and strict internet security.

Other Features of a Strong Internet Security System • Secure Firewalls A firewall is an internet security filter that is made up of a device or collection of tools that may either deny or allow access to a specific network. A firewall can be a hardware device included in your computer or software that helps in preventing information from being stolen or deciphered as well as deny dangerous codes from being injected on your website or computer.

• Up To Date Malware Detector and Blocker A malware is malicious software such as virus, spyware, Trojan, and worms. A virus for computers is a software program that works much like how a virus works on humans. The virus enters the system and then replicates itself. It can then be spread by opening or installing an infected file on another system or computer and further damages may happen at the systems depending on the kind of virus. On the other hand, a worm is a more active version of the virus. It works similarly, but at a faster rate. Trojans, coming from the words “Trojan Horse”, is a deceptive kind of malware as it appears benign and useful, but in reality it is very dangerous as it can steal information, open “back doors” on websites or computers for easier access for the hacker, and even spread out malware. A strong internet security must include malware detector and blocker, which can detect malware before they even spread out or be injected in the system. Aside from detecting, it should also be able to block it to prevent damage.

• Use a Trusted Browser Another way to heighten your internet security is by using a trusted browser. Some browsers are weak and can even help hackers attack your computer system and/or websites. A good browser comes from trusted company and it should be updated often for security purposes.

 

The Wall Street Journal recently reported on a new invention, among the finalist’s of this year’s Asian Innovation Awards, PassWindow.  PassWindow simplistically operates as a unique key pattern on a transparent section of a standard identity, credit, or bank card.  By design, PassWindow requires no working parts or power of any kind.  It instead utilizes a pattern of vertical and horizontal lines.  When a PassWindow user holds the window over an email, internet, or even a printed letter, the user can see a single-use password and authenticate securely.  The creator, Matt Walker, plans on licensing his cards for less than $2 each.  The system is currently being tested by five banks internationally.  But can the technology required for a cereal-box child’s decoder toy protect against internet fraud better than current, much more expensive and technologically advanced measures?  With registered patents in his name, Mr. Walker certainly hopes the answer is “Yes.”

The U.S. Supreme Court recently held in City of Ontario, California v. Quon, 560 U.S. ______ (2010), that, arguendo, a government employee had a reasonable expectation of privacy in the content of their text messages sent and received on a government-issued device and an audit of those messages constituted a search under the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution.  The government employer’s audit of the content of those messages nonetheless was reasonable where:

• the audit was conducted for a legitimate work-related purpose of determining the necessary subscription plan; and

• the audit was limited in scope to a discrete period of time sufficient to obtain a useful sample;

• the employee’s off-hours communications were redacted; and where

• a coherent policy was in place that addressed the medium and technology used to send the messages and limited the employee’s privacy expectations in their communications.

The privacy rights of third-party, non-employee persons whose communications were also viewed also were not violated in this case, as their arguments relied solely on the perceived unreasonableness of the employee search.  The Court specifically stated that a similar search would also be reasonable in the private-employer context.  The case provides useful guidance to employers in writing privacy policies and in structuring and conducting employee audits.  It is also a good warning that communications containing private information may nonetheless be subject to third-party viewing if sent to an employer-provided device.

Earlier this month, the first state Attorney General action initiated under the Health Information Technology and Clinical Health Act (HITECH Act) settled. Connecticut’s Attorney General brought the action against Health Net in the District Court of Connecticut following Health Net’s May 2009 HIPAA violations involving the loss of a portable computer disk drive containing protected health information (PHI) of over 1.5 million plan participants. For a copy of the stipulated judgment, click here.   Health Net represented it incurred over $7 million in expenses investigating the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the drive, identifying and notifying affected Health Net members, and offering and providing two years of credit monitoring services and $1,000,000 in identity theft insurance to affected members. The loss investigation uncovered that though Health Net had implemented privacy policies and procedures regarding PHI, certain employees handling the drive failed to comply with those policies and also did not create a log of the data transferred to the disk drive. The investigation also determined, however, that, to date, there has been no evidence of any identify theft or fraud of any of the affected members.

Health Net’s obligations under the settlement are two-fold: 1) a guaranteed fine of $250,000, payable to the Connecticut state treasury, coupled with a contingent additional fine of $500,000 if the data on the missing disk is shown to have been accessed and misused; and 2) a Corrective Action Plan. The Corrective Action Plan requires Health Net to supplement its existing security and privacy programs, including by: utilizing a combination of hardware and software to identify and automatically encrypt email containing PHI, monitoring and controlling the transfer of PHI to removable media, identifying and logging all actual and attempted access to PHI, and encrypting the hard drives of all company laptop computers. Additionally, Health Net is required to strengthen its oversight of IT projects and institute broad HIPAA training and awareness measures for all employees.

This is only the first state Attorney General action initiated under the authority granted by HITECH in early 2009. States like California have already been aggressively fining hospitals for failure to prevent unauthorized access to confidential patient medical information. On June 10, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced the imposition of $675,000 in fines to five separate hospitals, in accordance with Section 1280.15 of the California Health and Safety Code, which was amended in 2008 to hold health care providers accountable for ensuring the privacy of patients. For the California Department of Public Health’s press release on the fines, click here . With hurting state coffers, the additional authority and fines permitted under HITECH may create quite an incentive to prosecute further HIPAA violations.

Financial experts are warning that the storm is not quite over. They are warning us that the hard economic times are not yet over. They are worried about the folks who are under the false assumption that the dark clouds have indeed passed and as such they can go back to their old spending ways.

Actually, the number of people who file for bankruptcy keeps on rising financial quarter after the next. Yes, people are still down there in the doldrums with their finances despite all of the efforts by the government to bail them out.

Today, however, we are not here to remind everyone of the awful states of our markets. No, on the contrary, we are here to talk about the need and importance of making sure that all the information and details you provide your bankruptcy lawyers are in safe hands. In other words, it is important to enlighten everyone about why they should insist on nothing else from the bankruptcy lawyers who are holding their private and confidential information.

To help you get a glimpse of how things could really go wrong for you if the data is disclosed, here is a brief story that may explain it easier. There was once a company that had thousands of satisfied shareholders. On the inside, the company was experiencing terrible financial upheavals of which the board had done a great job, thus far, of keeping from the public.

They finally got down and decided that it would be in the best of interests of their shareholders and investors alike were they to discreetly begin proceedings to file for bankruptcy. Unfortunately, the bankruptcy lawyers handling the case got reckless and careless and the data got into the wrong hands and that was it. The company got ousted and its share value more than halved overnight and the legal firm responsible for the mishap was sued and never ever came up, again. It could be you next time, so take care and be a responsible bankruptcy lawyer.

The deadline for compliance with the Massachusetts regulations for the protection of personal information is March 1, 2010. To view a complete copy of the regulations, click 201CMR1700reg.pdf.   The Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulations (OCABR) originally promulgated these regulations last Fall, mandating that those holding personal information about Massachusetts residents devise and implement specific, detailed policies to protect the security and integrity of that information. Virtually all Massachusetts businesses are covered, and the regulations also apply to entities outside the Commonwealth that hold Massachusetts residents’ Social Security numbers, credit card numbers, driver’s license numbers or financial account numbers.   The purpose of these regulations is to require business practices that minimize the risk of future data breaches and to ensure better protection of that personal information.   If your business holds personal information, as defined by these regulations, you should closely review these regulations to ensure that you are in compliance.

On December 11, 2009, the Massachusetts SJC affirmed the dismissal of claims against BJ’s and Fifth Third Bank by plaintiff credit unions and an insurance company arising out of a data breach that exposed magnetic strip data of credit and debit cards of 9.2 million BJ’s customers.   In Cumis Insurance Society, Inc., et al. v. BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc., et al., 107 credit unions and Cumis Insurance Society brought suit against BJ’s and Fifth Third alleging that thieves were able to obtain the card information from BJ’s computer systems because BJ’s and its acquiring bank, Fifth Third, breached their contractual obligations, both to each other and to Visa and MasterCard, by storing the magnetic strip data from the back of the cards after a card transaction had been authorized or declined. The plaintiff credit unions sought damages incurred for the cost of replacing the compromised cards. Cumis sought to recover the funds paid to the credit unions to reimburse them for the fraudulent use of the cards.

The credit unions asserted claims for breach of contract on the theory that they were intended third-party beneficiaries of BJ’s contract with Fifth Third Bank and of the Visa and MasterCard regulations that were incorporated into the contract, which specifically included a prohibition on retaining magnetic strip data after a cardholder’s transaction is completed. The SJC affirmed the dismissal of the breach of contract claims finding that plaintiffs failed to establish that there was any intention by BJ’s or Fifth Third that the credit unions were supposed to be the beneficiaries of their contract. In addition, the credit unions could not recover under Visa and MasterCard regulations (specifically, prohibiting the storage of magnetic strip data) because Visa and MasterCard retained the enforcement of their regulations for themselves.   The SJC also affirmed the dismissal of plaintiffs negligence claims on the grounds of the economic loss doctrine, which prohibits recovery under a negligence theory when the only harm sustained is economic in nature.   Finally, the SJC affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s fraud and negligent misrepresentation claims. Plaintiffs theory was that they relied on BJ’s required compliance with the Visa and MasterCard regulations to not store the magnetic strip data. The SJC found that plaintiffs could not show BJ’s ever made any direct representations to the plaintiffs regarding its compliance with the Visa and MasterCard regulations that would support these claims.   The discussion of the fraud and negligent misrepresentation claims in this case are the most interesting aspect of the decision. The SJC found that even if plaintiffs could establish that defendants made representations about their compliance with the Visa/MasterCard regulations to the plaintiffs, the plaintiffs could not have reasonably relied on those representations because the Visa/MasterCard regs explicitly include a fine for failing to comply. Quite simply, the system was designed with the expectation that such data breaches would occur. In addition, the SJC noted that the plaintiffs even insured themselves against such fraudulent losses, showing that plaintiffs expected such a data breach to occur. Finally, the SJC noted that the plaintiffs had ongoing knowledge of noncompliance with the magnetic strip regulation because they received notifications from Visa and MasterCard regarding compromised accounts due to improper retention of magnetic strip data.   Ultimately, there was no theory under which the credit unions could recoup their losses stemming from the data breach.

The Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulations (OCABR) has revised – for a third time – the regulatory scheme created to protect the personal information of Massachusetts residents. The deadline for compliance is now March 1, 2010.

The OCABR originally promulgated the regulations last Fall, mandating that those holding personal information about Massachusetts residents devise and implement specific, detailed policies to protect the security and integrity of that information. Virtually all Massachusetts businesses are covered, and the regulations also apply to entities outside the Commonwealth that hold Massachusetts residents’ Social Security numbers, credit card numbers, driver’s license numbers or financial account numbers.

The regulations have been controversial, particularly among members of the Massachusetts business community, who widely complained that they were inflexible, overly broad and expensive to implement.

The new version of the regulations appears aimed at addressing some of those concerns, while still adhering to the fundamental goal of requiring business practices that minimize the risk of future data breaches.

Among the more significant changes that were just announced: (1) the regulations now apply only to entities that own or lease “personal information,” and no longer extend to those who simply “store or maintain” it; (2) the regulations now adopt a more risk-based approach, addressing criticism that the former draft amounted to a one-size-fits-all mandate; and (3) the new regulations rework the language concerning third-party service providers, requiring contract language essentially obligating service providers to comply with the regulations, but grandfathering pre-existing contracts without such language during the first two years the regulations are in effect.

The United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit has issued a ruling in Sovereign Bank v. Fifth Third Bank and BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc., exploring the relative responsibilities and obligations of banks involved in credit card security breaches. It addresses the complex relationships between the credit card company (here, Visa), the banks who issued the credit cards (”Issuers,” such as party Sovereign Bank), the retailers who accept the credit cards (”Merchants,” such as BJ’s) and the banks who work with the Merchants to process credit card transactions (”Acquirers,” such as party Fifth Third Bank). The relationships are governed in part by Visa’s Operating Regulations, which set out standards regarding the use and retention of credit card information.

Generally, losses resulting from fraudulent credit card charges are the responsibility of the Issuing Bank, but that liability can shift to the Acquirer if it resulted from the Acquirer’s violation of Operating Regulations. Sovereign, an Issuer, claimed that happened because Fifth Third’s merchant, BJ’s, failed to destroy information gleaned from customers’ swiped credit cards after it had been used.

The decision explored in depth whether the contractual relationship between Visa and Fifth Third was intended to benefit Issuing Banks such as Sovereign, giving them a right to sue. The Third Circuit, overturning the lower court, concluded that Sovereign could at least make the argument. It also held, however, that Sovereign could not sue BJ’s for negligence, since the losses were purely economic and there was no “third party beneficiary” argument it could construct to reach the retailer.

A recent study by researchers at the Heinz School of Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University questions whether data breach notification laws are effective in reducing identity theft. According to a research paper on the issue, identity theft accounted for losses of $56 billion in 2005, with 30% of those thefts resulting from data breaches. More than 40 states have passed laws calling for consumer notification in the event of a known breach to combat the problem, but the research concludes that “data breach disclosure laws reduce identify thefts by 5 for every 10 million people,” a number it describes as “not statistically significant.” While the paper also notes that such laws may account for a reduced magnitude of losses, or increased security vigilance by business, it does strongly suggest that the wave of data breach notifications laws are far from a silver bullet. We can expect hacked servers and stolen laptops to pose a risk for businesses and consumers for some time to come.

Given the delicate nature that most, if not all, of the criminal cases are in, privacy and confidentiality are almost second nature to criminal defense lawyers. No one needs to be reminded of the importance of keeping all the information extracted from witnesses. Actually, it is even outlined by the law of the land.

In order to build a strong, formidable case for or against a criminal, it is prudent to practice silence. Failure to which, you make yourself and your Criminal Defense Law Firm vulnerable to a myriad of malpractice lawsuits that can set you back ages. Basically speaking, the wrong word out to someone could make or break the entire case you have built. That is how delicate and fragile the info really is in most of these cases.

If you, as a criminal defense attorney, are found guilty of either knowingly or unknowingly divulging secrets revealed to you under oath then you may even end up being disbarred from practicing. Bearing in mind the energy and the effort that you put into making it through law school in one intact piece, no one wants this to happen to him or her.

To safeguard their investments and property, criminal defense lawyers will do just about anything to stay within the safe confines of the law statutes. To do so, they are spending heavily on gadgets and gizmos that improve or boost their clients’ documents safety and security.

From putting up state-of-the-art burglar proof cabinets in their physical offices to spending hundreds of dollars to have the latest antivirus softwares and file encryption software installed in their laptops and smart phones, they are leaving nothing to chance.

Whether you are a high-profile criminal defense attorney or just a client who has found out that they need the services of one of them, you need to understand how to safeguard your private data and information. Take some time out and bring yourself up to speed on the latest developments, to be safe and secure, always.

As of early June, at least 24 civil cases had been filed against Hannaford, in states as diverse as Florida, Pennsylvania and Maine. On June 9th the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation “centralized” these cases (and any that might be filed later) in the Federal District Court for the District of Maine. In theory, this will simplify pre-trial proceedings: discovery will take place under the oversight of one judge, and will be consolidated to avoid duplication. The cases will then be sent back to their courts of origin for trial, at least in theory. In practice, it rarely works out that way, and the “pretrial” court ends up resolving the case, either through settlements, summary judgment rulings, or rulings on class certification.

Following on the heels of last year’s settlements in the TJX litigation, this is the case to watch as this area of law evolves. Hannaford is the second “mega” security breach in the United States (there have been hundreds of relatively minor breaches), and we can expect substantial legal and judicial resources to go into this litigation.

The Hannaford breach was announced on Monday, March 17, 2008, but at least a couple of law firms let no grass grow under their feet. The first lawsuit was filed in Maine two days later.