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<b>Online Exclusive:</b> VA Announces Another Lost Laptop
The Veterans Administration ('VA') announced this week that that a desktop computer with personal information on about 38,000 veterans is missing from the office of one of its contractors. The desktop was discovered to be missing from a Reston, VA, office by the contractor, Unisys, on Aug. 3.
VA officials announced the missing computer much more quickly than they did when a laptop was stolen from a VA employee's home this spring. However, some of the same problems that occurred in that first incident apparently occurred in the second case, too. Primarily, patient information was not encrypted (though the computer is password-protected). Also, the data on each patient was comprehensive: names, addresses, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, insurance carriers and billing information, dates of military service, and claims data that may include some medical information.
'VA is making progress to reform its information technology and cyber security procedures, but this report of a missing computer at a subcontractor's secure building underscores the complexity of the work ahead as we establish VA as a leader in data and information security,' Secretary James Nicholson said in a statement.
Nicholson was blasted by Democratic members of Congress for the VA's latest gaffe. 'Enough is enough,' said Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), adding that Nicholson should resign.
'Losing veterans' most sensitive personal information must have consequences,' said Sen. John Kerry (D-MA). 'Fire the incompetents.'
However, Republicans expressed less anger. 'Since it was a private contractor involved, I expect VA to hold the contractor financially responsible for any costs that veterans may incur as the result of this loss. We clearly appear to have a systems problem with VA data security,' said a representative of Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID), who chairs, the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee.
The Veterans Administration ('VA') announced this week that that a desktop computer with personal information on about 38,000 veterans is missing from the office of one of its contractors. The desktop was discovered to be missing from a Reston, VA, office by the contractor, Unisys, on Aug. 3.
VA officials announced the missing computer much more quickly than they did when a laptop was stolen from a VA employee's home this spring. However, some of the same problems that occurred in that first incident apparently occurred in the second case, too. Primarily, patient information was not encrypted (though the computer is password-protected). Also, the data on each patient was comprehensive: names, addresses, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, insurance carriers and billing information, dates of military service, and claims data that may include some medical information.
'VA is making progress to reform its information technology and cyber security procedures, but this report of a missing computer at a subcontractor's secure building underscores the complexity of the work ahead as we establish VA as a leader in data and information security,' Secretary James Nicholson said in a statement.
Nicholson was blasted by Democratic members of Congress for the VA's latest gaffe. 'Enough is enough,' said Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), adding that Nicholson should resign.
'Losing veterans' most sensitive personal information must have consequences,' said Sen. John Kerry (D-MA). 'Fire the incompetents.'
However, Republicans expressed less anger. 'Since it was a private contractor involved, I expect VA to hold the contractor financially responsible for any costs that veterans may incur as the result of this loss. We clearly appear to have a systems problem with VA data security,' said a representative of Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID), who chairs, the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee.
Major Differences In UK, U.S. Copyright Laws
This article highlights how copyright law in the United Kingdom differs from U.S. copyright law, and points out differences that may be crucial to entertainment and media businesses familiar with U.S law that are interested in operating in the United Kingdom or under UK law. The article also briefly addresses contrasts in UK and U.S. trademark law.
The Article 8 Opt In
The Article 8 opt-in election adds an additional layer of complexity to the already labyrinthine rules governing perfection of security interests under the UCC. A lender that is unaware of the nuances created by the opt in (may find its security interest vulnerable to being primed by another party that has taken steps to perfect in a superior manner under the circumstances.
Strategy vs. Tactics: Two Sides of a Difficult Coin
With each successive large-scale cyber attack, it is slowly becoming clear that ransomware attacks are targeting the critical infrastructure of the most powerful country on the planet. Understanding the strategy, and tactics of our opponents, as well as the strategy and the tactics we implement as a response are vital to victory.
Legal Possession: What Does It Mean?
Possession of real property is a matter of physical fact. Having the right or legal entitlement to possession is not "possession," possession is "the fact of having or holding property in one's power." That power means having physical dominion and control over the property.
The Stranger to the Deed Rule
In 1987, a unanimous Court of Appeals reaffirmed the vitality of the "stranger to the deed" rule, which holds that if a grantor executes a deed to a grantee purporting to create an easement in a third party, the easement is invalid. Daniello v. Wagner, decided by the Second Department on November 29th, makes it clear that not all grantors (or their lawyers) have received the Court of Appeals' message, suggesting that the rule needs re-examination.