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Consumer Database Company Hacked Again

Posted by michael on from the don't-worry-be-happy dept.

x-guru writes "CNN is reporting on the indictment of a Florida man on 144 identity theft charges including fraud, money-laundering, and obstruction of justice. Approximately 8.2 GB of data was stolen from Acxiom Corp, a company responsible for the storage of vast amounts of personal, financial and corporate data. It looks to be an inside job as six Acxiom employees have agreed to cooperate with the investigation." Acxiom was hacked last year as well.

5 of 230 comments (clear)

  1. What? by windside · · Score: 3, Interesting

    It looks to be an inside job as six Acxiom employees have agreed to cooperate with the investigation.

    It might just be the early morning talking, but could someone explain how employee cooperation implies an inside job? Maybe I need more coffee.

    --
    ...Whether my Maker is prepared for the great ordeal of meeting me is another matter.
    Churchill
  2. Links within a chain by Evil+Schmoo · · Score: 3, Interesting

    This is the great myth of the InterWeb security policies of most corporations -- you're only as safe as the weakest link in the chain. IBM, GE, et al, are probably among the most secure commercial sites available, and yet their customers still get nailed by third-party lapses.

    Anyone want to take a gander on when Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion get busted for going through some minor service provider?

  3. The solution: Translucent database by richieb · · Score: 3, Interesting
    See this book on translucent databases. The data in such database is useless to all, except those who actually own the data. So, in this case, the stolen data would not be useful to anyone.

    --
    ...richie - It is a good day to code.
  4. Re:disclosure, "when will we have laws ?" by nusratt · · Score: 3, Interesting

    "of course i can't be bothered to RTFA, but when will we have laws making it a mandatory requirement for companies like this to fully disclose events like this to the public"

    can you be bothered to contact your legislators, or consumersunion.org, or epic.org?

  5. Not theft by jfengel · · Score: 3, Interesting

    As many slashdot readers will be sure to point out, this isn't theft. Like music pulled off Kazaa, Acxiom still has the original data, and their use of it is not diminished by this guy having a copy.