Instances of data breaches continue to make headlines across various industries in the United States. Recently, reports have emerged of a medical center employee who unlawfully accessed patient data, a third-party data breach at a New York bank and a major eyewear brand being hit with yet another data breach. Additionally, researchers have found that relying solely on smartphone facial recognition locks may not be reliable.
The first incident involves a medical center employee who has been accused of accessing the personal and confidential information of patients she was not treating. The employee, whose name has not been released, reportedly accessed this information without proper authorization and without any legitimate reason. It is unclear how long this unauthorized access continued.
The medical center in question has released a statement condemning the actions of the employee. “We take the privacy and security of our patients’ information very seriously and are deeply concerned about this incident. We are working closely with law enforcement to investigate the matter further and ensure that the employee is held accountable for their actions.”
In another incident, a major New York-based bank has announced that it suffered a data breach due to a third-party vendor that was responsible for the storage of customer data. The bank has not disclosed the name of the vendor, but reports suggest that the breach may have resulted in the compromise of customer names, addresses, birth dates, and Social Security numbers.
The bank has assured its customers that it is taking all necessary steps to investigate the breach and protect their personal information. However, customers are advised to monitor their accounts closely and report any suspicious activity to the bank and to credit monitoring services.
Meanwhile, a popular eyewear company has experienced its third data breach in recent years. This latest incident saw hackers gain access to customers’ personal and payment information, including credit card details. The company has not yet released a statement on the matter, but customers are advised to monitor their accounts and report any unauthorized transactions as soon as possible to both the company and their financial institution.
In a related development, researchers have found that relying on facial recognition locks on smartphones may not be entirely secure. While some tech companies have touted these facial recognition locks as more secure than traditional passwords, researchers have shown that these locks can be bypassed, particularly with the use of 3D-printed masks.
According to the researchers, this is a concerning development, particularly as biometric data is much harder to change than a password. The researchers suggest that further testing is needed to explore this issue further, and that alternative security measures should be considered.
These incidents serve as a reminder that data breaches can and do happen across various industries. Companies must take data security seriously and take necessary steps to protect sensitive information from cyber threats. Additionally, it is essential for individuals to take responsibility for protecting their personal information by using strong, unique passwords, enabling two-factor authentication whenever possible, and monitoring their accounts for any suspicious activity.