Monthly Archives: July 2014

Homeland Security increases security for some U.S.-bound flights

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“The Department of Homeland Security announced Wednesday that it will require increased security on some international flights bound for the United States.  The flights, coming predominantly from Western Europe and the Middle East, will be subject to greater scrutiny of passengers and cargo, the department said, though officials did not spell out exactly what the increased security measures will entail.  U.S. intelligence officials estimate that as many as7,000 foreign nationals have flocked to Iraq and Syria to join the fight.  The concern is that the foreigners bearing Western passports could return home to attack their fellow citizens in the West.”

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/homeland-security-increases-security-for-some-u-s-bound-flights/

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US bans uncharged cell phones, laptops from some flights

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“If you’re flying into the US from certain countries, you may discover that getting through security will become even more time-consuming and stressful.  The US Transportation Security Administration revealed on Sunday that enhanced security procedures on flights coming to the US now include not allowing uncharged cell phones and other devices onto planes.  There is no official list of which airports are affected.  The TSA statement said: ‘During the security examination, officers may also ask that owners power up some devices, including cell phones. Powerless devices will not be permitted on board the aircraft. The traveler may also undergo additional screening.'”

http://www.cnet.com/news/us-bans-uncharged-cell-phones-from-some-flights/

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Insurance Premiums Surging as Obamacare Kicks In

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“We reviewed data from 784 health-care insurers around the nation. The sample included both private insurance firms and those with publicly traded parent companies, companies that took in a total of $450 billion in premium income last year.  Here’s what we found happened in the first quarter of this year, a period where Obamacare shifted into high gear:  Overall premiums rose a hefty 5.9 percent, or $12.44 per month, to $224.28. That followed a 2.7 percent increase in 2013. Private insurers who don’t have shareholders to answer to raised prices by 2.7 percent. But public companies jacked up their premiums by much more: 13.4 percent.”

http://www.moneyandmarkets.com/weiss-ratings-insurance-premiums-surging-obamacare-kicks-62978

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This Company Saved Money By Tracking Employees With Fitbits

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“One day soon, your company could hand you a fitness-tracking device as a gift.  The gift could have a sizeable payoff for the company. They could use it to track your fitness habits and, if you and your coworkers behave well, use that data to negotiate lower insurance premiums.  In fact, hot Valley startup Appirio did exactly that, handing out Fitbits to about 400 employees. And thanks to CloudFit, Appirio convinced its insurance company to lower its rates by 5%. That added up to a hefty  $280,000.  Thanks to provisions in the Affordable Care Act, which offers companies incentives for implementing wellness programs, and savings like that, more companies may try similar programs.”

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/company-saved-lot-money-tracking-005949318.html

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In sexting case, VA prosecutors want to photo teen’s erect genitalia

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“A Virginia teen is facing felony charges for allegedly sexting his girlfriend a video of his penis, and the authorities want to photograph his erect genitalia to bolster their case, according to news reports.  If found guilty, the 17-year-old boy, whose name Ars is withholding, could be jailed until his 21st birthday and be forced to register as a sex offender.   The boy’s attorney said that Prince William County prosecutors have obtained a warrant allowing them to photograph the boy’s erect private parts, a development his attorney is fighting along with the accusations. The boy is accused of distributing and manufacturing pornography and texting a video of it in January to his then-girlfriend, 15.”

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/07/in-sexting-case-virginia-prosecutors-want-to-photo-teens-genitalia/

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Why Google’s Waze Is Trading User Data With Local Governments

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“Planners in Rio de Janeiro are watching the aggregated data feeds of thousands of smartphones being walked or driven around a city, thanks to two popular travel apps, Waze and Moovit.  The goal is traffic management, and it involves swapping data for data. More cities are lining up to get access, and while the data the apps are sharing is all anonymous for now, identifying details could get more specific if cities like what they see, and people become more comfortable with being monitored through their smartphones in return for incentives.  The app can tell how fast a driver is moving and even get a complete record of their driving history.”

http://www.forbes.com/sites/parmyolson/2014/07/07/why-google-waze-helps-local-governments-track-its-users/

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90% of NSA-intercepted chats found to be non-targeted Web users

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“Ordinary Internet users, American and non-American alike, far outnumber legally targeted foreigners in the communications intercepted by the National Security Agency from U.S. digital networks.  Nine of 10 account holders found in a large cache of intercepted conversations, which former NSA contractor Edward Snowden provided in full to The Post, were not the intended surveillance targets but were caught in a net the agency had cast for somebody else.   Many of them were Americans. Nearly half of the surveillance files, a strikingly high proportion, contained names, e-mail addresses or other details that the NSA marked as belonging to U.S. citizens or residents.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/in-nsa-intercepted-data-those-not-targeted-far-outnumber-the-foreigners-who-are/2014/07/05/8139adf8-045a-11e4-8572-4b1b969b6322_story.html

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Suspect in terror sting jailed for refusing to divulge his password

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“A convicted terrorist will serve additional time in jail after he was found guilty of refusing to supply police with the password for a memory stick that they could not crack. The refusal was contrary to section 53 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, the UK’s wiretapping law.  Police had issued Hussain with the notice under section 49 of RIPA to force him to let the cops into his USB stick.  Along with three other men, Hussain pleaded guilty to plotting to use a remote-control toy car to plant a homemade bomb at the TA centre. The suspects were arrested before any preparations for an attack were put together.”

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/01/16/password_refusal_earns_terror_suspect_extra_jail_time/

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The Ex-Google Hacker Taking on the World’s Spy Agencies

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“During his last six years working as an elite security researcher for Google, the hacker known as Morgan Mayhem spent his nights and weekends hunting down the malware used to spy on vulnerable targets like human rights activists and political dissidents.  His new job tasks him with defending a different endangered species: American national security journalists.  34-year-old Morgan Marquis-Boire [is now] the director of security for First Look Media, the media startup founded by eBay billionaire Pierre Omidyar that has recruited journalists Glenn Greenwald and Laura Poitras.  The website has become the most prolific publisher of NSA leaker Edward Snowden’s remaining secrets.”

http://www.wired.com/2014/07/morgan-marquis-boire-first-look-media/

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U.S. Scrutiny for Banks Shifts to Commerzbank and Germany

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“State and federal authorities have begun settlement talks with Commerzbank, Germany’s second-largest lender, over the bank’s dealings with Iran and other countries blacklisted by the United States. The contours of a settlement are expected to include at least $500 million in penalties for Commerzbank. The bank would most likely face a so-called deferred prosecution agreement, which would suspend criminal charges in exchange for the financial penalty and other concessions.  A potential deal with Commerzbank, 17 percent owned by the German government, is expected to pave the way for a separate settlement with Deutsche Bank, Germany’s largest bank.”

http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/07/07/u-s-scrutiny-for-banks-shifts-to-commerzbank-and-germany/

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