Companies More Likely Than Not To Have Exposed Customer Data

from the how-comforting dept

Yes, by now, with reports coming out daily about this or that data loss by some company or agency with tons of supposedly private data, it's now safe to assume that your private data has been exposed and you are potentially at risk. To drive home that point, a new study has found that more than half of all companies surveyed admitted to leaking some data in just the last 12 months. Even better, is that most companies seem to admit they don't do a very good job protecting customer data, and there still doesn't seem to be that much interest in fixing the problem. Since companies can pretty much get away with an apology and perhaps a promise to sign you up for 1 year of a credit watch service, it seems that there's little incentive to actually protect your data.
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  1. identicon
    I smell a class action lawsuit, 22 Jun 2006 @ 11:34am

    Can't believe some skizzy lawyer has attempted a few of these.

    They do seem to fix all problems and leave us all feeling safer. tic

    link to this | view in thread ]

  2. identicon
    I smell a class action lawsuit, 22 Jun 2006 @ 11:34am

    Can't believe some skizzy lawyer has attempted a few of these.

    They do seem to fix all problems and leave us all feeling safer. tic

    link to this | view in thread ]

  3. identicon
    Mr.E, 22 Jun 2006 @ 12:32pm

    How long will it last?

    With identity theft, privacy, HIPAA, and the like being such hot topics - How long before someone finally steps up and makes some legislation to protect consumer's information? They're absolutely right, right now they just get their hands slapped, but if fines were issued changes would take place.

    From a different angle: I am by no means a lawyer, but couldn't it be argued that my personal information is MY information and is only being used by the company for means of purchasing a product or service and not actually owned by that company. Therefore selling the information to another party or copying the information would be illegal. I mean isn't that what Microsoft says to us when we purchase one of thier applications? Even though we bought it, it isn't ours to do with as we wish.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  4. identicon
    SPR, 22 Jun 2006 @ 1:05pm

    Re: How long will it last?

    Excellent point, Mr. E. But what happens when someone breaks into your house and steals your Windows XP disc, then installs it on another computer!! Answer, absolutely nothing.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  5. identicon
    Sanguine Dream, 22 Jun 2006 @ 1:17pm

    Thats becuase for the most part information security is seen as a "cost" and not a "producer of revenue". Meaning that it will cost the business money to protect your data but protection is not turning a profit. I would figure that if your security is tight enough you would attract more customers which would increase revenue.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  6. identicon
    I, for one, 22 Jun 2006 @ 1:50pm

    Re: How long will it last?

    "From a different angle: I am by no means a lawyer, but couldn't it be argued that my personal information is MY information and is only being used by the company for means of purchasing a product or service and not actually owned by that company."

    Apparently not, depending on the contract you sign. AT&T have just changed their contract terms to make it clear that data you give to them belongs to them (according to their untested assetion).

    This is so they can freely give your personal information to government spies without fear of legal retribution.

    Btw, I can understand why you might not want anybody thinking you are a lawyer, for the social stigma, but I am perplexed why so many people begin statements with the words "I am not a lawyer, but.."

    Lawyers are not in any way special, they do not deal in facts, they deal with rhetoric and arguing black is white. Therefore nobody is going to ridiclule you for being wrong on matters of law, since nobody really knows what the law is anymore, it's all about who shouts the loudest and has the most money. You don't start responding to a feature about road transportation by saying "I am not a truck driver, but...." do you?

    link to this | view in thread ]


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