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Hacking Crime Victims to Remain Secret

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the security-through-obscurity dept.

outlier writes "The AP is reporting that federal law enforcement agencies are offering to keep the names of companies that have been victims of major cracking crimes secret. The goal is to encourage victims to come forward, so that the government can 'prosecute cases while at the same time achieving the kinds of protection and addressing the concern that the business community rightly has.'" My favorite part is how FBI agents will now "discretely" arrive at victims' offices.

4 of 179 comments (clear)

  1. yep by Sacarino · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Nothing beats security through denial.

    "Uh, I wasn't hacked, nope. Must have been Corporation X."

    And WTF is this?
    Government efforts to tighten Internet security and investigate online attacks have long been hampered by reluctance from companies to admit they were victims, even in cases where executives quietly paid thousands of dollars in extortion to hackers.

    Ok, someone needs to prove this, otherwise I get the highly suspect that it's some government propaganda. Honestly, who pays a script kiddie to remove the pr0n and racist/anti-gay shit from their site?

    --
    -- El Sacarino tiene gusto de la chocha
    1. Re:yep by FreeLinux · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Government efforts to tighten Internet security and investigate online attacks have long been hampered by reluctance from companies to admit they were victims, even in cases where executives quietly paid thousands of dollars in extortion to hackers.

      Ok, someone needs to prove this, otherwise I get the highly suspect that it's some government propaganda. Honestly, who pays a script kiddie to remove the pr0n and racist/anti-gay shit from their site?

      True dat. This little gem is popping up more and more frequently. It is utter BS but, as more people hear it in more places they will accept it as fact. It is total BS!! NO corporation is paying extortion money to hackers. Unless they are counting the dollars wasted on "Security Consultants".

  2. Is this a good thing? by skaffen42 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I agree that confidentiality is important in some crimes. For example a woman who has been raped shouldn't have to have her name splashed on the front page.

    But... if my bank or credit card company has a habit of getting hacked (ie. lax securtity) I figure I have a right to know about it.

    Just my $.02.

    --
    People couldn't type. We realized: Death would eventually take care of this.
  3. Double standard. by FrankieBoy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Wait a minute, I'm confused here. The government is doing everything it can to protect the names of companies that have deployed inadequate network security practices from getting out but they're also making it their mission to expose companies that have employed deceptive accounting practices like Enron and MCI. The bottom line is that they both point to problems with the running of the company and if the company is publicly held then this information should be exposed and the incompetence dealt with.