Ransomware attacks hit U.S. healthcare
The FBI was one of four U.S. government agencies that issued a joint alert in response to a wave of cyberattacks on healthcare systems in New York, Vermont and Oregon. Officials confirmed Ryuk ransomware, which has a record of attacking public sector entities, was responsible – and concern is that more attacks are imminent.
Journalists today have vast amounts of data sources to draw from. With that comes responsibility to handle personal information appropriately, and when necessary to anonymize or shield it – and to make sure it can’t be re-identified. First is to determine which data is most important to protect then determine which methods to use. This can include de-identification, pseudonymization, data aggregation, data redaction, and adding statistical noise.
The passage of CA’s Prop 24 has been getting a lot of press since the U.S. election because it significantly expands CCPA. But three other important U.S. state laws were also passed in the last week. 1. Massachusetts’ Right to Repair Law: gives car owners and repair shops access to car data without going through the manufacturer. 2. Michigan’s Proposal 20-2: specifies that a search warrant will be required to access personal electronic data and communications. 3. Portland, Maine’s Ballot Question B: prevents the city and officials from using facial recognition on groups or members of the public.
Procrastinators of the world can throw a party whenever they get around to it: Google has once more pushed back complete third-party cookie deprecation. The new target is “early next year.” Reasons for the delay include concerns expressed by U.K. data regulator Information Commissioner’s Office, an ongoing inquiry by the U.K. Competition and Markets Authority, and widespread discontent in the advertising ecosystem.