Law firms’ own employees are among the major cyberthreats to be protected against

Jul 1, 2014 7:50 AM CDT

FCC stakes out Florida driver, seeks to fine him $48K for allegedly using cellphone jammer

It is illegal in a number of jurisdictions to use a cellphone while driving, at least if it’s not hands-free device. But it’s also illegal, based on similar safety concerns, for a driver to try to prevent fellow motorists from using cellphones by jamming their signals, the Tampa Tribune reports.…

Jun 24, 2014 8:45 PM CDT

Feds tell local law enforcement to remain silent about cellphone surveillance

Updated: The federal government is putting pressure on local law enforcement to keep quiet about its use of Stingray and other surveillance technology used to gather data off of mobile phones. The Associated Press reports that the Obama administration has taken the rare step of becoming actively involved with state…

Jun 13, 2014 6:45 PM CDT

Mom can’t learn who created fake Instagram account in daughter’s name; police say no crime occurred

After Reve Osheel, Tourette’s syndrome, spoke out against bullying, someone created a fake account in her name that included screenshots of photos from the Arizona 12-year-old’s real Instagram account, her mother says. Expletive-laden messages posted by the imposter that seemingly came from Osheel have now created trouble for her and…

Jun 13, 2014 1:10 PM CDT

DOJ charges Russian in ‘Cryptolocker’ and ‘Project Zeus’ attacks, says US victims lost over $100M

The Department of Justice has announced charges against a Russian man who is alleged to be the leader of a computer hacking group responsible for “Cryptolocker” and “Project Zeus” virus attacks that cost U.S. individuals and businesses more than $100 million, ABC News reports. “Evgeniy Bogachev and the members of…

Jun 2, 2014 10:15 PM CDT

Be vigilant about protecting sensitive client data with these tools

Jun 1, 2014 8:10 AM CDT

‘60 Sites’ session takes in the crowd’s favorites

Jun 1, 2014 8:00 AM CDT

4 types of employees can put your security at risk

Jun 1, 2014 7:40 AM CDT

Facing decades in prison, computer hacker ‘Sabu’ gets time served due to cooperation with feds

A prolific corporate and government computer hacker known as “Sabu” could have gotten decades in prison for attacks he orchestrated against targets including credit card issuers, the U.S. Senate and other government entities worldwide. However, Hector Xavier Monsegur was sentenced Tuesday to time served after cooperating with the feds and…

May 27, 2014 5:10 PM CDT

New Blackphone could help lawyers safeguard client information

While covering this year’s ABA Techshow, I reported on a session that focused on tools and services available to lawyers concerned about maintaining client confidentiality in the face of increased governmental surveillance, particularly from the National Security Agency. One of the most interesting things that I learned (and there were…

May 23, 2014 5:45 PM CDT

Tech giants refuse to keep government requests for data secret

Some of the largest tech companies in the country are no longer complying with secret governmental demands for information and data. Instead, they’re actually telling users that they’re being targeted. The Washington Post reported that companies including Facebook, Apple, Microsoft and Google have taken a stand against governmental agencies that…

May 2, 2014 8:19 PM CDT

Meet the lawyer working on a plea deal for NSA leaker Edward Snowden

National Security Agency-leaker Edward Snowden called on one of the best-known Espionage Act lawyers last year when he entered into plea negotiations with the United States government. According to a Tuesday article in the New York Times, Plato Cacheris, a prominent Washington, D.C. lawyer and name-partner at Trout Cacheris, has…

Apr 29, 2014 5:23 PM CDT

As state and local police struggle to investigate cybercrime, official describes ‘helpless feeling’

Despite an explosion of cybercrime in recent years, many state and local law enforcement officers aren’t equipped to deal with it. As a result, conduct that results in significant financial losses and could create major security risks goes uninvestigated and unprosecuted. For example, the state of Utah was able to…

Apr 21, 2014 4:45 PM CDT

Smartphone makers to offer ‘kill switch’ next year; some lawmakers say that isn’t enough

Amidst efforts by lawmaker to require a “kill switch” allowing owners to remotely delete data and deactivate smartphones after a theft, major makers are providing an voluntary alternative. All smartphones they manufacture after July 2015 will offer consumers the option of turning on a kill switch, reports the San Francisco…

Apr 16, 2014 5:05 PM CDT

3rd Circuit frees email hacker ‘weev’; says feds tried and convicted him in wrong venue

The controversial conviction of an email hacker has been vacated by a federal appeals court, not because of issues with the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act but because Andrew Auernheimer was tried and convicted in the wrong venue. Known as “weev,” Auernheimer was released on Friday from a federal prison…

Apr 14, 2014 8:00 PM CDT