Hackers break into citizen database

Personal data on 32,000 Americans is stolen from Seisint, which builds large databases with information from government agencies.

The story "Hackers break into citizen database" published March 9, 2005 at 6:17 AM is no longer available on CNET News.

Content from Reuters expires after 30 days.

What a surprise...

Its been a nasty rumor that most of us adults have heard about most of our lives... the governement is collecting information about you.. but it seems its even worse than that since for some reason the all-knowing, all-powerful government has been "selling or giving" our information to these scumbag companies that dont understand the technology they are working with. Of course we can never expect anything to be done about this while only normal citizens are affected. But maybe one of these days one of the secret govenrment databases with important people, (you know the type.. rich, well connected people that always seem to come out on top.. never get caught.. or when they do always seem to get that little slap on the wrist..) will be compromised.. then you will see some action. <br /><br />What a joke.. hey.. welcome to America where we get closer to communism every day.

Treasury?

If I am not mistaken, the Secret Service now falls under the umbrella of the Department of Homeland Security, not the Treasury.

Treasury?

If I am not mistaken, the Secret Service now falls under the umbrella of the Department of Homeland Security, not the Treasury.

Who Gave These Chumps Rights to my Info?

I don't get it. How is it that a bunch of companies I've never heard of before have the right to collect and sell MY PERSONAL information without my permission? Somewhere along the line, our system has been totally broken. I especially appreciate this line from the article:<br /><br />"personal information of about 32,000 U.S. citizens on databases owned by publisher Reed Elsevier,"<br /><br />So how is it that Mr. Elsevier became the proud owner of my personal data? How is it he can buy and sell it at will without my approval? This area needs some serious reform and pronto.

They buy it.

Most people are not customers of Reed Elsevier <br />(at least directly). Companies like that accrue <br />information about people by purchasing it or, buy <br />obtaining it through public records through <br />various sources. <br /> <br />So, what gives a right for companies to do it? <br />Well, simply because there's no law against it <br />and the demand exists for the information. Is it <br />unethical? Certainly. Spooky? Sure. Illegal? No, <br />not at all. The really sad part, of course, is <br />that today, the information has a very measurable <br />value. <br /> <br />If you do something or speak to someone, and that <br />information is recorded -- it's worth something. <br />You produced something of worth (silly as it may <br />seem), and others sell it without renumeration to <br />you. It seems to me that you ought to see a <br />portion of the profit, maybe even have some <br />control over your own personal information. I <br />suppose if Reed Elsevier had to contact everyone <br />in their database and give them a 10% cut of what <br />they charge to access it, access to that database <br />might be more expensive and security a little <br />higher. But if they had to allow you to opt-out <br />of being in the database (and not be reentered), <br />that would decrease the value of their product. <br /> <br />I like the example of supermarket loyalty cards. <br />Here, they pay you for use of the information <br />about what you purchase. They use that <br />information to do targeted advertising (you buy <br />Alpo, the register spits out a coupon for a <br />competing dog food as an incentive to try it), or <br />perhaps to sell to the government (for example, <br />so the government can identify households that <br />appear to be keeping muslim kosher). The point <br />is, you have a good idea where the information is <br />going (though they should be more specific) and <br />they pay you (perhaps 5-10% discount on <br />groceries) for the privilege. <br /> <br />I don't remember having ever gotten a check from <br />ChoicePoint or an option to opt-out of their <br />database. I wonder how much money I've made for <br />them... Maybe it only five cents -- but it's <br />still my nickel.

Who Gave These Chumps Rights to my Info?

I don't get it. How is it that a bunch of companies I've never heard of before have the right to collect and sell MY PERSONAL information without my permission? Somewhere along the line, our system has been totally broken. I especially appreciate this line from the article:<br /><br />"personal information of about 32,000 U.S. citizens on databases owned by publisher Reed Elsevier,"<br /><br />So how is it that Mr. Elsevier became the proud owner of my personal data? How is it he can buy and sell it at will without my approval? This area needs some serious reform and pronto.

They buy it.

Most people are not customers of Reed Elsevier <br />(at least directly). Companies like that accrue <br />information about people by purchasing it or, buy <br />obtaining it through public records through <br />various sources. <br /> <br />So, what gives a right for companies to do it? <br />Well, simply because there's no law against it <br />and the demand exists for the information. Is it <br />unethical? Certainly. Spooky? Sure. Illegal? No, <br />not at all. The really sad part, of course, is <br />that today, the information has a very measurable <br />value. <br /> <br />If you do something or speak to someone, and that <br />information is recorded -- it's worth something. <br />You produced something of worth (silly as it may <br />seem), and others sell it without renumeration to <br />you. It seems to me that you ought to see a <br />portion of the profit, maybe even have some <br />control over your own personal information. I <br />suppose if Reed Elsevier had to contact everyone <br />in their database and give them a 10% cut of what <br />they charge to access it, access to that database <br />might be more expensive and security a little <br />higher. But if they had to allow you to opt-out <br />of being in the database (and not be reentered), <br />that would decrease the value of their product. <br /> <br />I like the example of supermarket loyalty cards. <br />Here, they pay you for use of the information <br />about what you purchase. They use that <br />information to do targeted advertising (you buy <br />Alpo, the register spits out a coupon for a <br />competing dog food as an incentive to try it), or <br />perhaps to sell to the government (for example, <br />so the government can identify households that <br />appear to be keeping muslim kosher). The point <br />is, you have a good idea where the information is <br />going (though they should be more specific) and <br />they pay you (perhaps 5-10% discount on <br />groceries) for the privilege. <br /> <br />I don't remember having ever gotten a check from <br />ChoicePoint or an option to opt-out of their <br />database. I wonder how much money I've made for <br />them... Maybe it only five cents -- but it's <br />still my nickel.

What's the worry?

One person's login fell into another person's<br />hands, and that's supposed to be national news?<br /><br />Wake up people, what should be national news is<br />that they're selling your personal information to<br />anybody who is willing to pay in the first place.<br /><br />That's like Wal*Mart quietly selling nuclear<br />weapons at $100 a piece, but it not being<br />"news worthy" until somebody takes one without<br />paying for it.

[Rusdude]

Names, SSN were stolen!

We can't be sure what exactly is meant by" identity and password had been misappropriated". Probably that, like in CP's case, someone gained an unauhtorized access to the database. I don't see how you can underestimate this. It's not as if they stole login info to an adult site, they stole info that allowed access to names, social sec. numbers, etc. (see below)<br /><br />"The information accessed included names, addresses, Social Security and driver's license numbers, but not credit history, medical records or financial information."

What's the worry?

One person's login fell into another person's<br />hands, and that's supposed to be national news?<br /><br />Wake up people, what should be national news is<br />that they're selling your personal information to<br />anybody who is willing to pay in the first place.<br /><br />That's like Wal*Mart quietly selling nuclear<br />weapons at $100 a piece, but it not being<br />"news worthy" until somebody takes one without<br />paying for it.

[Rusdude]

Names, SSN were stolen!

We can't be sure what exactly is meant by" identity and password had been misappropriated". Probably that, like in CP's case, someone gained an unauhtorized access to the database. I don't see how you can underestimate this. It's not as if they stole login info to an adult site, they stole info that allowed access to names, social sec. numbers, etc. (see below)<br /><br />"The information accessed included names, addresses, Social Security and driver's license numbers, but not credit history, medical records or financial information."

What a surprise...

Its been a nasty rumor that most of us adults have heard about most of our lives... the governement is collecting information about you.. but it seems its even worse than that since for some reason the all-knowing, all-powerful government has been "selling or giving" our information to these scumbag companies that dont understand the technology they are working with. Of course we can never expect anything to be done about this while only normal citizens are affected. But maybe one of these days one of the secret govenrment databases with important people, (you know the type.. rich, well connected people that always seem to come out on top.. never get caught.. or when they do always seem to get that little slap on the wrist..) will be compromised.. then you will see some action. <br /><br />What a joke.. hey.. welcome to America where we get closer to communism every day.