Microsoft 98
join:2003-01-22
Micmac, NS
|  Police secrets leaked by computer virus
Experts at SophosLabs™, Sophos's global network of virus and spam analysis centers, have reminded internet users of the importance of computer security after media reports revealed that sensitive police information has been leaked onto the internet from a virus-infected computer.
According to the Japanese press, information about 1500 individuals, related to police investigations over a three years, was leaked from a virus-infected computer belonging to an Okayama Police investigator. The data is said to have been distributed to users of the Winny peer-to-peer file-sharing system. Winny is the most popular file-sharing network in Japan, with over a quarter of a million users.
According to the report, the leak occured because the policeman was storing data about investigations on his personal computer. The PC was infected with an unnamed computer virus which is said to have enabled Winny users across Japan to access the sensitive information. The exposed data included the names of sex crime victims.
"It's bad enough when an individual has data stolen from them by a virus, but a police force being the victim is a real cause for concern," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos. "This incident acts as a timely reminder that all organizations need to take computer security seriously. If you allow your employees to put sensitive company data onto their own home computers, you are running the risk that they will not be as well defended as the PCs within your business."
Sophos recommends companies protect their email gateways, desktops and servers with an automatically updated consolidated solution to defend against the threats of viruses, spyware and spam.
About Sophos
Sophos is a world leader in integrated threat management solutions, developing protection against viruses, spyware, spam and policy abuse for business, education and government. Sophos's reliably-engineered, easy-to-operate products protect more than 35 million users in more than 150 countries. Through 20 years' experience and a global network of threat analysis centers, the company responds rapidly to emerging threats - no matter how complex - and achieves the highest levels of customer satisfaction in the industry. http ://www.sophos.com/pressoffice/news/articles/2006/03/jppolice.html?pl_id=9&lang_id=1&lp_keyword=jppolice
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