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Archive for the ‘full disk encryption’ category

ICO HITS OUT AT DATA BREACH FIGURES

April 30th, 2011

Laptop Encryption

According to different sources the number of cases registered in ICO is 2565, while action taken against only 37 cases. This generates a huge dissatisfaction against the working process of ICO. The power of ICO is now under doubt. The rumour is that ICO is nothing but a paper tiger and as a result of it everybody is thinking that the number data breaches cases will increase as there is less chances on punishment.

The fault of ICO was highlighted after data breaching incident of Viasat. After that case Viasat claimed that ICO is playing with the figures of fine for data breaching. According to different sources Viasat was penalized by $310,000 for data breaching while the actual figure have to be $500,000.

There is also more dissatisfaction against the ICO in different Organizations due to the lethargic working process of ICO. As, according to different expert the number of cases of data breaching is increasing day by day so ICO has to be more quick prompt in taking action, but the reality tells that the number of cases recorded in the ICO remains static. Means the actual data has been hampered.

ICO denies all those complain and in a conference they announced that they have the actual figures and that is 37. They also assured the public that they are in hurry to take action against those organizations that are involving in data breaching.

But the truth is far different from the announcement of ICO. According the inner source of ICO, ICO has lost a large number of report files related to data breaching. Though there are a several number steps can be taken by ICO against data breaching but they are not interested to it. Without telling the organizations about the importance of data encryption software, laptop encryption software, encryption, data security, importance of hard drive encryption, laptop encryption, full disk encryption, computer protection they are more interested in taking fines. And the main problem is that they are also not very sure about the amount of fines, as a result of that the figure varies from organization to organization.

About Alertsec:

Alertsec Xpress is a very easy and convenient service which enables us to secure valuable information on our laptops. Alertsec Xpress has found the ultimate way of deploying the protection via the web. They have found the ultimate way of deploying the protection via the web. They are the no.1 encryption service provider for hundreds of banks and financial institutions worldwide.

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Posted in Alertsec Express, Data Protection, Encryption, computer security software, full disk encryption, laptop encryption

Tags: data security Encryption laptop encryption laptop security

Leak Fear as Hospital Loses Patient Detail

April 29th, 2011

Flah Drive

As the number of laptop and data storage device robbery increasing day by day, the negligence of different organizations about the implementation of data encryption software and laptop encryption software come to the notice of ICO. Though ICO is trying hard to make all the organizations aware about the importance of encryption of data but the organizations are showing to less energy to encrypt the laptops and data storage devices. As a result of that any short of data or device loss is making huge effect on the organization.

ICO came to know that recently at Queen Marry Hospital a flash drive which contained the details of the patients of that hospital had been lost. Though the main copy of those data has been stored in a computer with password protection but the data in the flash drive was neither encrypted nor password protected.

The hospital informs that the flash drive contained the names and id numbers of at least 19 patients of them. From this we can easily understand the situation that is going to occur if the incident came to the notice of those patients. And not only in this hospital but this thing is happening in everywhere like; schools, different organizations even in antivirus developing organizations also. A source of the hospital informed that the data was stored in the flash drive from a password protected computer to upgrade the computer. The management of the hospital immediately lodged a report to the police and they assured that the treatment of the patients would not be affected due to this incident.

Such type of incidents shows us the importance of data encryption software, computer security software. If encryption is enabled in our system and storage devices then we do not have to worry about the manipulation of data after the data has been lost. Though a lot of encryption software is available in the market and ICO is trying their best so that every organization uses those encryption softwares to protect their system and data but due to unawareness and negligence most of the organizations show lethargy to implement it in their organizations. ICO has decided to take some serious steps so that every organization will implement those softwares in their organization.

Though the hospital informed the police and the patients and apologized to them for their mistakes, just to put off the light from their fault but everyone can easily understand the effect of this incident.

About Alertsec:-

Alertsec is one of the leading data encryption software providers. Alertsec offers computer protection that is convenient and affordable. Analysis of the total cost of ownership of the Alertsec Xpress solution and the major alternatives show that the benefits of the Cloud Service can cut the TCO by up to half.

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Posted in Alertsec Express, Computer security, Data Protection, Encryption, Encryption Chip, Hard Disk, USB Key, full disk encryption

Tags: Cloud computing Cryptography data encryption Data storage device Encryption security

Laptop Encryption: Protect Your Data from Hackers

April 28th, 2011

Laptop Encryption

A simple incident can turn to be the biggest problem of your life and later you may find that it happened just because of your negligence. Though there are several laptop encryption software and laptop encryption software available in the market to secure our personal and professional data but still we neglect it.

According to ICO as most of the organization does not follow the rules of data encryption and they are less interested about implementing any laptop encryption software, so as a result most of the stored data of those organizations remain unencrypted. So, any sort of loss or theft can cause a huge damage to those organizations. As an example they mentioned about the incident of Freehold School. A laptop was theft from the car of one the teachers of that school, the laptop contained the details of around 90 pupils and all those data were unencrypted.

As we are aware that the hackers are more interested in personal data and they are such powerful that minimum negligence to the data encryption act can harm your system. As a prove we can take the incident of Ashampoo, a German software company, though they are also a computer security software company but the hackers got success to hack their system and stole the personal details of their clients. As Ashampoo took an immediate step to protect their data the loss of information did not harm them too much, but the incident could have been more damaging.

In case of Freehold Community School, ICO found that the management of the school was totally unaware about the importance of laptop encryption software. Though their systems contain personal data but still they did not protect their data or they did not follow any security system to protect their data. As most of the organization does not take the importance of data encryption seriously so ICO wanted to take financial steps against them. They wanted to do surveys on different organization and if any organization been found guilty under the data law act, they want to punish them.

The ICO takes some routine steps to make aware the institutes and organizations about the importance of laptop encryption software. The steps that ICO can take to secure and encrypt the data of an organization are as follows:

Criminal prosecution.
Non-criminal enforcement.
Audit.

Now the main question is how to stay secure………

Though there are various data encryption software and sites available to protect your personal data but you can follow some routine works to maintain the preliminary protection of the data by,

1. Any attachment should not be opened randomly.

2. Use antivirus softwares to your system to protect it from the virus.

3. Always treat messages from unknown senders with suspicion.

4. After any sort of doubt contact immediately to the nearest police station and lodge a complaint.

As, the hackers are increasing in numbers and also improving in quality of action day by day , so you have to be sure that your system is encrypted, portable and mobile data storage devices, so that you can feel free from any sort of damage to your personal data or the data stored in your system or in storage devices. Because “precaution is better that cure”.

About Alertsec:

Alertsec Xpress is the No.1 encryption service provider for hundreds of banks and financial institutions worldwide. They are providing 24*7 customer service system. By offering computer security software, encryption with lowest TCO (Total Cost of Operation), Checkpoint and Pointec they are assuring to make data secure. For more details about Alertsec log on to; http://www.alertsec.com

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Posted in Alertsec Express, Computer security, Data Protection, Encryption, computer security software, full disk encryption, laptop encryption, laptop theft

Tags: Encryption laptop laptop encryption laptop encryption solution security

Laptop Theft at Oldham School

April 26th, 2011

Laptop Encryption

On 21^st April 2011, ICO (Information Commissioner’s Office) found that the Freehold School of Community of Oldham broke the data law act as they did not have any data encryption software to protect the personal data of their systems. As, the ICO strongly suggested to every institute and organization to use data encryption software to protect the personal data of their system and portable data storage device, because negligence to this will harm the organization.

The incident took place on January 2011, as a laptop was stolen from a teacher’s car, which was parked outside of his home. The laptop contained details of around 90 pupils. When the incident came to the notice of ICO, the members of ICO found that the data in the laptop was not encrypted, so anyone can easily access the personal details those were stored in the laptop. The ICO was shocked when they found that the school was unaware about the importance of data encryption software.

According to ICO most of the organizations are continuing their operations without implementing the basic data encryption software to their system, though all of them are aware about the needs of it.

It is vitally important that organizations take the necessary precautions to ensure that people’s personal information remains secure. Because the hackers are improving their skills day by day and they are mostly interested in hacking personal details from the data storage devices of an organization. Therefore negligence to that part will not only harm an organization technically but can also reduce its goodwill and number of customers. Earlier, installing an anti-virus to your system assured you about the safety of data of your system. But the hackers are improving in such a high speed that cracking the anti-virus has become very easy for them.

That is main reason behind the anxiety of ICO about the security of data of different organizations. Because according to them everyone has to follow some basics to secure the data stored in their system or data storage device. We are also very casual at the time of handling attachments, but the Data law Act suggests that , you should not open any attachments where you are unaware about the details of the sender. Data encryption software is very much essential for the protection of your system. Because that is only thing which can protect your system from any sort of hackers. Everybody must have to follow some basic rules to protect their data.

1. Any attachment should not be opened randomly.

2. Use antivirus softwares to your system to protect it from the virus.

3. Always treat messages from unknown senders with suspicion.

4. After any sort of doubt contact immediately to the nearest police station and lodge a complaint.

The ICO is satisfied with the fact that after their approach the Freehold Community School agreed to implement data encryption software to their system and portable/mobile data storage devices. Previously they only followed that no laptop or any data storage device could be kept in car or in any vacant place.

About Alertsec:

Alertsec is one of the most trustable and popular data encryption software providers. Most of the banks and financial institutes are using their softwares to protect the data and details of the customers. Alertsec Xpress is the preferred solution for a growing number of healthcare institutions in the US and Europe. Thousands of IT professionals around the globe are using Alertsec Xpress as their favored encryption service provider.

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Posted in Computer security, Data Protection, Encryption, computer security software, full disk encryption, identity theft, laptop encryption, laptop theft

Tags: data encryption software Data storage device Encryption laptop security

Henry Ford Health System didn’t Learn from its Previous Mistake

February 28th, 2011

Lost Flash USB Drive

This is the second news of data breach within the Henry Ford Health System in less than a year. On 31st January 2011 an employee of Henry Ford Health System in Detroit lost an official flash drive. In the previous incident, a Henry Ford employee’s laptop was stolen from an unlocked office. Laptop encryption software was not used in the stolen laptop. This was the second case of data breach occurring within the hospital which took place just before three months of the latest incident in September but this time again the stolen drive was not encrypted.

Personal Data of 2,777 Patients is on Risk

The drive was containing the personal information of 2,777 patients and the security lapse within the Henry Ford put their information on huge risk. The lost information included names, address, e-mail address, phone number and date of birth, medical record numbers, type of treatment, test information and results of the patients. The drive contained information of only those patients who tested for urinary tract infections between July and October 2010.

An investigation of the breach started on 8th February 2011 but it is still not clear as to how, the device was lost. Henry Ford’s Chief Privacy Officer Meredith Phillips said in a statement there is no evidence the flash-drive data was misused.

Federal Health Information Privacy Law

According to the federal health-information privacy law, health care organizations are required to notify patients within 60 days of such a breach and health systems also must pay for identity monitoring for a year to help guard against identity theft.
In such case of data breach HIPAA require Henry Ford Health System to notify the affected patients, local media and the Department of Health and Human Services. Henry Ford has not placed a prominent notice of the breach on its Web site but it is notifying affected patients individually and offering one year of free credit monitoring services. Patients seeking information on activating ID monitoring may call 877-835-0549 between 9 AM to 9 PM on weekdays.

Security Flaw because of Unencrypted Devices

Everyday there are cases of security and identity breaches in the news and most of them occurred because of the unencrypted portable devices. What an organization should do in such case of data security? I will say the idea is to become a little more proactive. A simple solution like Data encryption software has a special option to encrypt the data. Which keeps your documents safe and protect your sensitive data against un-authorized users by utilizing the latest data encryption technologies.

Keep your Sensitive Data Safe with Alertsec

Above incident shows that in the absence of full disk encryption, privacy of such a huge number of people can get affected. To keep your sensitive data safe from thefts and hacking, it is vital to use Data encryption software. There are many incidents taking place across global organizations which highlight the need of a data security and recovery software. By a mere investment of $13/month, the information can be secured with no loss what so ever. That is certainly a small price to pay compared to what can happen if you lose confidential or sensitive data. Alertsec Xpress offers a very good and easy-to-use laptop security service that includes more than the traditional software licensing model. Feel free to subscribe for your personal 30-day free trial.