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Former Middletown School contractor accused of Laptop theft

December 5th, 2011

Not one or two but 400 laptops missing! A recent case of laptop theft saw 400 laptops being stolen from Middletown schools by a former contractor. A Butler County grand jury is currently reviewing the charges. If convicted, he faces 5 years prison time.

According to the Middletown police Larry A. Osborne Jr., 29,has been charged with third-degree felony theft on Nov. 9 in Middletown Municipal Court. He is accused of stealing computers since 2008. Osborne, a computer technician, was a former contractor of the Butler County Educational Service Center. The approximate value of the 400 laptops is $123,000. Osborne used to sell these computers on ebay. He sold around 350 computers to a man in PA who had no clue that these computers were stolen property. The PA man has not been charged. The machines were either used ones or non-working.

Former school contractor stole 400 laptops

The first theft was reported on Nov. 8 where eight Apple laptop computers were stolen from the district’s warehouse, 110 Baltimore St.

So far the department has recovered 46 of the 400 laptops. According to Lt. Scott Reeve. “The investigation is pretty much done. We’ve recovered all we’re going to recover,”. He further added that the thefts were discovered when the owner of 1 Stop Shipping Shop on Vail Avenue became suspicious about the no of computers Osborne was shipping. 18 laptops were recovered from 1 Stop Shipping Shop and 28 from Hallstead, PA. Lt. Reeve added “He wasn’t just taking them from one location,”. “He was taking them from multiple locations. I think that is part of the reason he got away with it for so long. He is an information technology guy and it’s not unusual to see him walking around with a computers in his hands, and they weren’t all being stolen from one location. He was spreading out the thefts at various schools throughout the district.”

Apparently Osborne was a full time IT worker with the district and lost his job a month ago when the theft came to light.

The modus operandi was that Osborne stole laptops that were left unattended while making service calls. Inspite of the fact that the district conducts general audits of its systems on an annual basis, the laptops were stole. The reason being Osborne was the employee in charge of this district.The district is revamping its security policy to make sure such thefts do not take place in the future.

Alertsec and data encryption go hand in hand

Information has become highly mobile. There are netbooks, laptops, iphones and blackberries. You leave any of these unattended and the next thing you know is that they are stolen!

To lose any of the above device means losing valuable information! Especially when this information includes not only your personal data but that of hundreds and thousands of people.

Encryption is the best security solution to data breaches and laptop thefts. Alertsec helps you keep your info secure.

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Posted in Computer security, Identity and Information loss, Lawsuits and settlements, computer security software, identity theft, laptop encryption, laptop theft

Tags: Apple Baltimore Counties Hardware Information Commissioners Office insurance laptop laptop theft LoJack Notebooks and Laptops security Theft United States

Burglars steal 20 laptops from Strawberry Point School

October 24th, 2011

Laptops have become an integral part of the business world. It gives you the freedom to move around with your work. It is cool, sleek and gives you connectivity outsid

Cart left stranded in Muir woods. Laptops stolen!

e of your office premises. But hang on! As much as you value your laptop, so do thieves!Laptop is a great prize to have, for the thieves!And it is not easy to steal one at all. You sit at a Cafe working on your laptop. You get a call from a business colleague. You get up and start talking, start moving as the range is not catching. You come back to your seat and guess what, your laptop’s been taken!

The following news item talks about laptop burglary that occured in Strawberry Point School in Marin County. Burglars did away with twenty laptop computers from the Strawberry Point Elementary School’s library last week. The burglary was reported by the school’s principal Monday around 8:25 a.m. At the time of the theft, the computers were in the library at the K-5 school at 117 East Strawberry Drive in Strawberry.

The burglars opened a locked door , took a white steel cart that contained the Apple MacBook laptops. Each laptop was worth $1,300 each. The perpetrators left the cart stranded near Panoramic Highway and Sequoia Valley Road, east of Muir Woods. Obviously the computers were missing!

In a similar incident on July 20, forty-seven computers — 30 MacBooks and 17 iBooks worth an estimated $52,500 — were stolen from Mill Valley School District campus.

Here the suspects cut a padlock to an access gate on Old Mill St. to get on the campus and then pried open a window in the school’s multi-purpose room on the back side of the school, according to the Mill Valley Police Department. Police continue to investigate the case but haven’t made any headaway.

“We’re working with the police department to increase our security and making sure everything is functioning as it should,” said Tim Ryan, the director of maintenance and operations for the Mill Valley School District. “Schools statewide are inherently open places, and we have to find a balance between remaining open and maintaining a high level of security.”

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More about laptop security from Alertsec

Laptops generally get stolen from the work place, conference centers, hotel rooms, cars, airports and train stations. It is difficult to prevent theft as opportunists are everywhere in our society.

Best bet would be to make sure having a fresh back-up on a server or back-up device.

Lastly, by using encryption software, you greatly enhance the laptop security as there is no way that the information is compromised if lost or stolen.

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Posted in Computer security, Data Protection, computer security software, data breach, data encryption, laptop theft

Tags: Burglary Cases and Accessories Hardware insurance laptop Notebooks and Laptops Repair Theft

Laptop and computer equipment thefts at Detroit Public Schools

September 18th, 2011

School Laptops and computer equipment stolen

Laptop thefts are on an increase. Laptop theft leads to loss of hardware, software, and essential data that has not been stored. Once the laptop is in a thief’s hand, he can easily access your personal data and sensitive information.

The recent case of laptop theft asserts the need of laptop encryption and strong security measures.

Detroit Public Schools break-ins and thefts

Eleven people are accused of stealing school laptops, computer equipment and cafeteria funds from Detroit Public Schools. Three of those charged are ex- DPS employees — a teacher, cafeteria employee and cashier helper.

According to Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy around $50,000 worth of laptops and computer equipment were stolen. Cases are not only limited to thefts but some of them include break-ins.

“They broke in through windows. They broke in through doors,” said Roy Roberts, the emergency financial manager for Detroit Public School.

Court drama

Prosecutor Kym Worthy further added that six of the defendants were arraigned Thursday in 36th District Court; authorities are looking out for the other five.

The defendants are:

Anthony Mosby, 47, of Oak Park, a former teacher at Clippert Elementary/Middle School. He is charged with failure of a school employee to report a felony conviction — in this case his third conviction for drunken driving.

Charmain Porter, 55, Detroit, a former DPS cashier. She stole food sales proceeds.

Toni Ausberry, 29, of Detroit, a former Mumford High School cafeteria employee, charged with larceny and embezzlement.

Dorian Alrich Blair Jr., charged with breaking and entering, possession of burglar’s tools and larceny in a building.

Dwight Alvin Brown for concealing stolen property.

Marque Mency, 23, of Detroit, charged with breaking and entering, possession of burglar’s tools and larceny in a building.

Lester Sanford, 63, Detroit, charged with receiving and concealing stolen property.

Demarco S. Wilson, 18, named in a warrant for breaking and entering, receiving and concealing stolen property and larceny in a building.

Demonte G. Wilson, 19, and Demarco Wilson, both of Detroit, named in a warrant for receiving and concealing stolen property, entering without breaking with intent, and larceny in a building.

Christian O. Williams, 19, Demonte Wilson, Demarco Wilson and Thomas Fent-James Williams

One case story

DPS police got a call on June 27 that four males in white T-shirts were taking computers from Mason Elementary School. Police investigation showed that the first-floor window of the school was open and that a computer storage cart had been unlocked. According to Principal Omega Mostyn the thieves took 12 Apple Macbooks, around $1,000 each from the school.

Thanks to the surveillance video, the suspects were immediately captured.

Christian Williams, 19, Demonte Wilson, Demarco Wilson and Fent-James Williams, 19, were charged with breaking and entering, receiving and concealing stolen property over $1,000 and larceny in a building.

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Posted in Computer security, Identity and Information loss, computer security software, data breach, identity theft, laptop encryption, laptop theft

Tags: Encryption Enter your zip code here Hosting insurance laptop laptop theft Social Security number Theft

Sony’s mainstay insurance provider refuses to accept liability for damages and compensation

July 25th, 2011

Battle between Sony and Insurer Zurich American Insurance Co. over Playstation hacks

After reading this piece of news you might wish you were not a PlayStation Network (PSN) user!

Sony’s mainstay insurance provider, Zurich American Insurance Co., is refusing to accept liability for damages and compensation regarding the recent hacks where 77 million PSN customer accounts were compromised.

The insurance provider has filed legal papers covering a total of 55 pending class-action lawsuits that customers have lodged against Sony.

The firm has brushed off its responsibility of covering data breach monetary damages as well as any other miscellaneous claims made by Sony.

History

Sony’s PlayStation Network and Qriocity networks were compromised in the month of April. According to their statement “An external intrusion on our system has affected our PlayStation Network and Qriocity services. In order to conduct a thorough investigation and to verify the smooth and secure operation of our network services going forward, we turned off PlayStation Network & Qriocity services,”

On Tue April 26 Sony confirmed that personal data of millions of customers had been compromised.

On Wed April 27 a class-action lawsuit was filed in the U.S. accusing Sony of failing to protect, encrypt and secure the private and sensitive data of its users.

Present

Nevertheless, Sony has gone ahead and filed insurance claims as it feels it is a fair coverage under previously agreed upon terms.

According to Sony the financial loss from the breaches is more than $178 million this year. The Japan based firm wants the insurer to cover costs related to the 55 class-action lawsuits under a general liability insurance policy written by Zurich.

Customer reactions and cyber risks

Customers are furious about their loss of privacy and waiting for settlements. It is time to redefine cyber security and the legalities there in. Companies are under the impression that general liability insurance covers everything. According to Ty Sagalow, an insurance consultant and founder of Innovation Insurance Group, “There are probably still some risk managers out there that think that their comprehensive general liability policy cover breaches,” says Sagalow, who was one of the main experts in charge of first drafting cyberinsurance policies for Zurich when he worked for the company prior to starting his own consulting shop. “These types of cyberevents are not covered in the typical standard forms of insurance.”

Cyber insurance

Cyber insurance is the insurance which covers loss occurred over the internet . The phenomenon is a recent one and yet to stabilize. Hence organizations like Sony must take into account adding additional coverage that can hold up to court scrutiny when things go haywire.

How can Alertsec help in cases of data breach?

Alertsec Xpress is the security service that protects data stored on your PC. As laptops are used in place of desktops, chances of data getting hacked are more. Unless your laptop is encrypted, you are running a big risk of your data getting compromised.

Encryption software helps enhance the laptop security. Alertsec uses industry leading Check Point Full Disk Encryption (former Pointsec) software that simplifies data protection.

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Posted in Data Protection, Encryption, Hackers, Identity and Information loss, Uncategorized, identity theft

Tags: breach notification Class action Computer security data breach data security data theft prevention Enter your zip code here Games insurance Liability insurance PlayStation 3 PlayStation Network Qriocity security Sony United States Video game Zurich

Laptop Theft Incidents on The Rise

November 6th, 2010

: Use Laptop Encryption Laptop Thefts

Since the early days of this blog, we have been strongly emphasizing how “Laptop” theft incidents can create a severe impact on the well-being and functioning of modern enterprises. Today, it is a well known fact that all of the secure data is contained in these laptops and if these laptops are stolen, it can cause tremendous damage in terms of processes, operations and off-course FINANCES.

The worries of laptop theft are applicable not just for organizations but they are going beyond the companies to residents of various states in the U.S. A fresh incident in the Brookings county has led to a warning from the Sheriff.

The Sheriff has warned the residents that they should keep their vehicles, homes and garages locked. The staff is also advising the residents not to make the basic mistakes like leaving their valuables in vehicles. According the County Assistant Sheriff Scott Sebring, two vehicle burglaries were reported in Elkton on Tuesday, Nov. 2.

The first incident happened in Elkton residence, the vehicle was unlocked and someone utilized the opportunity to steal a Dell laptop computer. Similar burglary incidents in other parts also lead to cash thefts.

In another incident in Accomack County, a laptop which contained the person information of county residents was stolen from a Las Vegas Hotel room. Apparently, after the loss the county has started receiving reports of fraud activities on the existing credit accounts of the residents.

Overall, there have been more than 600 theft related calls from the residents. However, the Country Administrator Steve Miner believes that it is not necessary for the two reports to be linked to each other. It could be that the stolen computer incident is different from the county data being used for fraudulent purposes.

The county could be under severe trouble if the residents start filing for lawsuits.

County Attorney Mark Taylor “has contacted the Las Vegas police to make sure that they are aware that this isn’t just a simple laptop theft worth $700,” Miner said, adding that the last contact between Taylor and the police department occurred a week to ten days ago.

The stolen laptop contained personal information which includes Social Security numbers, names and driver’s license of over 35,000 county residents. It has since been revealed that the files, which were related to personal property tax rolls, also contained information about some residents of Northampton and other localities.

This information has come from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles and other agencies, which include the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

Miner said, “We have talked with the DMV and they strongly feel that their staff do not commonly make the mistake of entering the wrong locality when registering vehicles”.

How Alertsec Xpress Would Have Helped

In an incident which highlights the need of a data security and recovery software.The threat could have simply be reduced to an insurance matter by a mere investment of $13/month. The information would have been secure 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.