Most of us naively operate under the assumption that certain things we do (i.e. Facebook messages) are totally private and nobody can access this information.  Safe assumption, right?  Well unfortunately, Symantec just announced that that third-party Facebook applications had access to users’ accounts and profiles “for years meaning they could see your profile, photographs, chat messages and collect your personal information. Im sure many of you are saying oh I am not worried I have everything on Facebook set to private. Sorryeven the most savvy Facebook users were exposed as well.

The good news is that these applications may not have known that they could access this data. And, Facebook has confirmed that it plugged the leak. Howev

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A massive data breach at Sony’s PlayStation Network has left customers worrying about that their personal information including credit card information. Sony is hoping to ease concerns by offering free identity theft protection to affected customers.

The PlayStation Network links gamers worldwide in live play and serves the company’s Qriocity movie and music services.

Sony says the identity theft protection will be free for 12 months after enrollment. The company says account holders should expect an email in coming days with instructions on how to enroll.

Those who enroll will receive monthly status reports and alerts if the program detects their personal information is being misused. The program also includes an insurance policy that provides up to $1 million in relief for covered costs for a year after an identity theft incident.

Customers will have until June 18th to sign up for the program.

Sony shut down its PlayStation Network on April 20, a day after it said it began investigating unusual activity. The

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Sony CEO Howard Stringer has taken to his companys blog for some additional damage control in light of the ongoing PlayStation Network data breach. Aside from the requisite were taking this very seriously rhetoric, Stringers letter contains a few details pertinent to PSN users.

For starters, U.S. PSN members are all getting a years worth of identity theft coverage that provides cyber monitoring, access to identity restoration specialists, and up to $1 million worth of identity theft insurance. Details will be sent out via e-mail over the next few days.

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Its a pretty big deal when Congress calls you up to testify at a hearing especially when its regarding something bad you did.   Most companies drop everything they are doing, increase their lobbyists monthly retainers, craft talking points and prepare for the PR assault that is coming.  Oh and hope that the members of Congress are gentle on them.  Or, well, if you are Sony Corporation, you can simply decline the invitation.

This is precisely what will happen when Sony does not show up for a House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade hearing tomorrow about the threat of data breaches after hackers stole personal information from 77 million Sony PlayStation Network accounts.  Wait, so the hearing is actually about Sonyso this is essentially a party is being thrown and the guest of honor refuses to show up?  At least the folks at Sony were kind enough to provide answers written questions from the subcommittee on the data breach.

And, some members of Congress are a pretty miffed about Sony declining to testify. Ken J

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It seems that major data breaches are happening on a daily basis these days.  Just recently we had the much covered Epsilon breach, as well as the recent attack on security provider Barracuda Networks – just to name a few.

Today we are speaking with Greg Reber, founder and CEO of AsTech Consulting. Si

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Remember the 1970s classic TV show The Six Million Dollar Man? Back then, six million dollars seemed like a boatload of money and it was. Of course, we would not turn away a winning lottery ticket for $6 million, though this is chump change compared to what one cybercriminal netted throughout his time stealing identities and credit card numbers.

We are talking about Rogelio Hackett Jr., the notorious criminal who stole more than 676,000 credit card numbers that were tied to tens of thousands of fraudulent transactions, with a total of more than $36.6 million. Thankfully U.S. Secret Service busted Hackett in 2009 and he faces up to 10 years in prison on an access device charge and another two years on an dentity theft charge.

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