Cyber Attack On US Tax System

One of the US IRS Tax system last month attacked by identity thieves who attempted to retrieve PINs that tax could be committed. The attacks were aimed at a web application that allows taxpayers, after entering their name, social security number, address and date of birth, their Electronic Filing (E-File) PIN to retrieve.

This PIN can then be used to apply for the tax refund. The identity thieves used the information to other parties was stolen to retrieve the PIN. In total, with 464,000 unique social security numbers tried to grab the code, which was successful at 101 000 social security numbers. According to the IRS , there was an automated attack. The Tax Administration claims that no taxpayers' data through IRS systems are won. In addition, the IRS will notify all individuals whose data were stolen by other parties.

US Cable Operator Arranges Data Breach For 500,000 Euros

US cable operator Cox Communications has with the regulator FCC reached a settlement of the equivalent of more than 500,000 euros last year after an attacker via social engineering access to the customer database and managed to get some of the customer data placed online.

The attacker approached a customer service representative and a provider of Cox and did thereby posing as an employee of the IT department. In both cases, he asked to log on to a phishing site, which also took both victims. With these credentials the attacker got access to the customer database, including names, email addresses, secret questions and answers, PINs and partial social security numbers and drivers license numbers.

Some of the information was then placed by the attacker on the Internet. The FCC then started an investigation or the cable company did have secure customer data. This showed that the systems are not applied measures that could mitigate the impact of the stolen credentials. Cox has now reached a settlement and will pay $ 595 000 and all affected customers still inform about the attack, which took place last August. The security has been tightened. The US cable operator has about 6 million customers.

Date 15 Million Customers T-Mobile USA Stolen From Experian

Attackers have managed to break in Experian at data processor and credit bureau and got the data of 15 million customers of the US branch of T-Mobile stolen. Experian will check for T-Mobile or its customers or creditworthy. At burglary name, address, date of birth and encrypted social security numbers and ID numbers, such as driver's license or passport, stolen.

Research from Experian shows that the encryption may be compromised. The stolen data comes from customers who between September 1, 2013 and September 16, 2015 an application for credit is made, as T-Mobile CEO John Legere an open letter to let you know. Experian states that on September 15, discovered the break-in on a company server. Doing so would have no payment information or other banking information stolen.

According to the data processor, the attackers had limited time access to the data, but how long is not said. It is also not clear how the attackers were able to gain access to the server. Affected customers can due to the incident two years at no cost to monitor their credit. In the open letter to customers said Legere to be very angry with Experian and will evaluate the cooperation with the company.