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| HOW SAFE IS YOUR NETWORK? |
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Recently, the number of networks being compromised is on the rise. This increase in unauthorized network use and “hacking” has left several companies, and many individuals, vulnerable to confidential data being exposed to the public. This confidential data has been anything from Social Security Numbers to bank account numbers.
A few of the companies making the news recently that have been hacked are:
BJ’S WHOLESALE CLUB – According to news reports, hackers gained access to the Credit Card Database that BJ’s uses to house all credit card information from current and past members. This compromise caused thousands of people to have to cancel their current credit cards and have new cards issued. At this time, this is the largest order of replacement cards in history.
INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE (IRS) – A study was conducted within the IRS using Social Engineering. As a result of this test, over 1/3 of the targeted employees willingly gave an unknown individual their user name and password. Had this attempt been a real attack, the individual that obtained the information from the user would have had access to the IRS’s data, including tax payer information.
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY – In March 2005, a team of hackers broke into the University’s computer systems gaining access to over 59,000 students (current, past, and perspective) as well as faculty and staff. The vital information that was stolen by hackers included Names, Addresses, and Social Security Numbers.
LEXISNEXIS – In March 2005, reports had also published that the financial firm LexisNexis had its computer systems compromised. This attack is said to have given hackers Names, Social Security Numbers, Addresses, and Drivers License Numbers of some 300,000 people contained in their Database.
BANK OF AMERICA – In an incident that did not involve hackers gaining unauthorized access to a network, Bank of America lost over 1 million customer records. These records were lost when a backup tape containing this information was being transported on a commercial airline. Included in the lost data is account information for over 60 US Senators.
While the list of companies above is only a small one, there have been countless other documented cases recently. While hackers target systems that are known to house confidential information, like those listed above, they will also target system for other reasons. Some of these other reasons can be as simple as to gain and use available space on a system. That available space may then be used to house illegal files and information.
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