Veterans Personal Information Stolen

In May 2006, The Department of veterans Affairs (VA) discovered that personal information for over 26 million veterans and their spouses was stolen during a robbery at the home of a VA data analyst. The stolen information includes names, social security numbers, disability ratings and dates of birth of veterans who have retired since 1972. Because the stolen information could support large scale identity theft, the VA will send letters to those veterans and their families whose information was stolen. The VA is advising that anyone receiving a notification letter should consider placing a fraud alert on their credit files. This will alert creditors to verify applicant information before opening or changing any accounts. Additionally, the VA has established a dedicated toll free telephone number, 1-800-333-4636, in order to answer victim's questions. Possible victims should also be advised to contact the affected financial institutions and to file a report with the Federal Trade Commission at http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft or by calling 1-877-438-4338.

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Boston Marathon/West, Texas Spam Campaigns

There is a new spam campaign in circulation using the Boston Marathon bombings that occurred on April 15, 2013 as a lure. Users are sent an e-mail encouraging them to a watch a video of the explosion. When the user clicks on the enclosed link to watch the video malware is installed on the user’s computer. The following URL patterns have been found in these e-mails: http://[IP-address]/boston.html http://[IP-address]/news.html When the user clicks on one of the links the Kehlios worm is installed on the user’s system which has the capacity to send spam; carry out Distributed Denial of Service Attacks; and steal online currency such as bitcoins. Most major anti-virus vendors have signatures for detecting this malware so users should keep their antivirus programs up-to-date. In addition to the Boston Marathon spam campaign, a West, Texas plant explosion spam campaign has also sprung up. This spam campaign uses similar exploitation techniques as the Boston Marathon spam campaign p

The Risks of Connecting Devices to Public Charging Stations

The following information comes courtesy of the New Jersey Cybersecurity & Communications Integration Cell Public cell phone charging stations supplied with power cables or USB ports located in stores, airports, libraries, and schools may seem like a convenient way to charge your mobile devices on-the-go, but can you be sure that your device and data will be safe if you connect? These kiosks can contain concealed computers that attempt to extract data such as contact information, photos, and videos from connected devices, unbeknownst to the users. Additionally, malicious or compromised charging stations can expose devices to the risk of a malware infection. Even if the charging station isn’t malicious, the manufacturer or owner of the kiosk may require users to input their email addresses or phone numbers in order to charge their devices, potentially exposing them to unwanted marketing campaigns, spam emails, and scam calls. The NJCCIC recommends ensuring your d

Police Report: May 8-11

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