Tag: data protection
478 articles
Declassified Intel Reveals China's Voter Data Collection
Newly declassified intel reveals a shocking truth: China has collected and analyzed over 200 million US voter records, putting sensitive information at risk of being bought, hacked, or exploited. President Trump has vowed to take swift action to protect voter data and prevent future threats to election integrity.
Progress Disrupts ShareFile Servers Over External Security Threat
If you're a ShareFile customer, take immediate action: shut down your Storage Zone Controller servers now to protect against a critical external security threat. Progress Software has already disabled access to affected accounts, but manual shutdown is crucial for safeguarding your data.
UK Information Commissioner Resigns Amid Workplace Misconduct Probe
UK Information Commissioner John Edwards has resigned amid allegations of workplace misconduct, including the use of vulgar and highly sexualized language towards staff, which he initially dismissed as misplaced humour. His resignation comes after an internal HR investigation concluded there was a case to answer, with evidence revealing a disturbing pattern of behaviour.
UK Privacy Watchdog Resigns Amid Poor Judgment Admission
UK Privacy Watchdog John Edwards has resigned with immediate effect, admitting his position had become untenable after being under investigation since February. He announced his decision on LinkedIn, bringing a sudden end to a months-long probe.
UK Watchdog Cautions Healthcare Worker Over Royal's Medical Records Breach
When trust in healthcare settings is broken and personal info is mishandled, swift action is taken - as seen in the ICO's recent decision to issue a formal caution to a former healthcare professional for misusing sensitive patient data. The watchdog is clear: people's personal info must be safe from exploitation.
Microsoft 365 Exposes Data Protection Gaps for Businesses
Microsoft 365 is a powerhouse for productivity, but it leaves data protection gaps that put businesses at risk. The harsh reality is that while Microsoft safeguards its infrastructure, the responsibility of protecting your business data - including backups and recovery - falls squarely on your shoulders.
Security Insider Exposes New Hire's Chaotic Tactics
A security insider recounts a tense confrontation with a new colleague over a departing workstation, revealing a chaotic approach to security protocols. The staffer's casual exit with a PC under their arm sparks a heated debate about data safety and responsibility.
CEO's Password Practice Exposes Firm to Breach Risk
A CEO's outdated password policy left his 2,000-strong company vulnerable to a potential data breach, after he stored all employee usernames and passwords in a single Excel spreadsheet on his desktop. This alarming security risk was only resolved after months of persistence, when the IT team proved they could manage messages centrally without needing everyone's login details.
Defense Teams Face AI-Driven Data Protection Challenges
The explosive growth of AI in the Department of Defense - a 1,775% surge in just one year - is putting intense pressure on defense teams to safeguard sensitive mission data. As AI empowers warfighters to make faster, more precise decisions, the challenge of protecting data at rest has never been more urgent.
OpenAI Bolsters ChatGPT Security With New Controls
OpenAI has introduced Lockdown Mode for ChatGPT, a game-changing security control that limits the model's access to the web and external services, giving users and organizations handling sensitive data an added layer of protection. This new feature is now available to personal and self-serve business accounts, following its initial rollout for enterprise plans in February.
OpenAI Bolsters ChatGPT with Lockdown Mode to Curb Data Exfiltration Risks
OpenAI is stepping up ChatGPT's security game with Lockdown Mode, a powerful setting that limits connections to the web and external services to prevent data exfiltration - a game-changer for those handling sensitive information. This advanced feature is now rolling out to eligible accounts, offering stricter protection guarantees.
UK Duo Ordered to Repay £118k for Selling Car Crash Victims' Data
Two former RAC employees have been ordered to repay £118k for selling personal data of car crash victims, a stark reminder that justice can extend far beyond prison sentences. This significant repayment demonstrates the Information Commissioner's Office's commitment to upholding data protection laws.
Bolstering AI Resilience Across Cloud and Data Environments
As AI agents and copilots increasingly access, share, and store enterprise data, organisations in Australia and New Zealand face a pressing question: can they keep their data secure and recoverable in this new landscape? The integration of agentic AI and copilots is expanding data pathways, creating new operational risks that demand attention to visibility, protection, and recovery readiness.
HIPAA Security Rule Overhaul Nears, But Will Regulators Meet May Deadline?
As the HHS Office for Civil Rights prepares to unveil a major overhaul of the 23-year-old HIPAA Security Rule, concerns are mounting about meeting the May deadline. Director Paula Stannard urges healthcare organizations to consider the steep cost of inaction, emphasizing that the benefits of proposed modifications far outweigh the burdens.
UK's ICO Unveils Five-Step Plan to Counter AI-Powered Cyber Threats
Boost your organization's defenses against AI-powered cyber threats with the UK's ICO five-step plan, and build public trust by putting robust security measures in place to protect personal data. By investing in cyber resilience, you can safeguard the data you hold and foster confidence in your organization's ability to keep it secure.
Meta Reverses Instagram Encryption Stance
Meta has backtracked on its plan to introduce end-to-end encryption for Instagram messages, leaving direct messages stored and transmitted in plaintext, giving the company access to user conversations. This move reverses years of promotion for enhanced messaging security.
Legacy Security Tools Hinder Data Protection Efforts
With data constantly moving across cloud and AI environments, traditional security tools are holding you back from truly protecting your data - it's time for a modern approach. A staggering 72% of security professionals agree that data security is more critical than ever, making an evolution in strategy urgent.
Ransomware Attacks Expose Backup Vulnerabilities
Ransomware attackers often destroy backup systems before encrypting data, rendering your recovery plan useless. This deliberate tactic follows a predictable sequence, allowing attackers to systematically dismantle your defenses and leave you with limited options.
UK Workers Sell Corporate Logins, Exposing Firms to Cybercrime
One in eight UK employees at large firms have sold or know someone who has sold corporate logins in the past year, a shocking trend that puts companies at risk of cybercrime. Alarming still, many justify this risky behaviour, with senior executives being more likely to think selling credentials is acceptable.
FTC Settlement Forces Kochava to Curb Location Data Sales
Big changes are coming for Kochava, a data broker that allegedly sold precise location data from hundreds of millions of smartphones without consent - under a proposed FTC settlement, they'll need to get explicit permission from consumers before sharing their sensitive info. This move could mark a major shift in how companies handle location data sales.
EU Advances Mandatory Online Age Verification Despite Security Risks
The European Commission's recent findings have revealed that Meta failed to protect minors, with a staggering 12% of European children under 13 reportedly accessing Facebook or Instagram, sparking concerns over online safety. This has led to a push for mandatory online age verification, despite security risks.
US Companies Face Record $3.45 Billion in Privacy Fines
US companies are facing a record-breaking $3.45 billion in privacy fines, a staggering amount that surpasses the total fines issued over the past five years combined, as regulators shift from education to full-scale enforcement. This surge in fines is driven by stronger state laws, coordinated interstate efforts, and increased scrutiny of AI and automation practices.
UK Data Watchdog Chief Steps Back Amid Workplace Probe
UK's top data watchdog, John Edwards, has temporarily stepped down from his role amid an independent workplace investigation, cooperating fully with the probe. He made the announcement via LinkedIn, confirming his voluntary leave of duties as head of the Information Commissioner's Office.
House Republicans Unveil National Data Privacy Bill
House Republicans have introduced the Secure Data Act, a groundbreaking national data privacy bill that puts Americans in control of their personal data and holds companies accountable for keeping it safe. The proposed law would give consumers the power to opt out of data collection for targeted ads, third-party sales, and automated decision-making.