Computers and computerized information are everywhere. Not just PCs, nor even things that look like computers some of the time. You have not even thought about the computers under your car embedded in highways that tell the department decision makers when to call out the salt machines or turn on the embedded heating tapes.
You have seen the cords across the road that count how many vehicles cross which road at which hour. But when that information is plugged into computer programs for local stoplights, turn light times, etc. Traveling outside the Greater St. Louis area, you know that this area has the best coordination of stoplights of any city, anywhere, because the updated and revised information is systematically being utilized by the local highway departments.
Now systematically becomes the operative word.
With computers all around us, there is information that needs protection. Most of us are totally unaware that anyone is interested in our information, let alone systematically reviewing it for patterns. My first introduction, literally a rude awakening, came at 8am in the morning after a 2am flight from Chicago.
Imagine my annoyance when a man called and wanted to talk about my charge card. “Yes, we certainly have been using it this past week! Did it melt down?” I asked.
He lacked my sense of humor. “Ma’m, I am specifically concerned about five purchases this morning. That does not fit your usual purchase profile.”
I sat straight up. “This morning? No, we haven’t charged anything this morning.”
“We show five purchases at three service stations since 6:00am this morning plus five Twinkies and $15 cash in Chicago.”
My card is gone? By now the empty pocket, was no surprise to me. This man was watching my credit card purchases and had my credit card purchase history right in front of him, on yet another computer.
Excellent security management by my credit card company, and I knew nothing about it until now. But who else had my information?
Someone else also had my number …Joe Spam! Another rude awakening: all the Spam that comes on my computer from previous email forwards, that my personal credit information could also be at risk. So could yours personal, business and corporate, and it should make you sit up and take notice too.
Intentional theft of plastic credit cards is being replaced by intentional theft of that information by incredibly clever computer thieves. This includes the identity theft that requires only your social security number. Any email or website can contain the tools that make your computer an open book for that thief!
Once credit card and personal information is gathered, there are many ways to proceed, some of them just malicious humor, just to show what the hackers can do. But some of them want money and have no ethical restraints.
Security is the hottest issue, not only for big corporations, but also for individuals, small business, schools and public agencies. There are laws being created at the federal and local level, but none of this is soon enough if your identity or your credit card information is already for sale. And think about legal fees!
Small businesses are incredibly vulnerable, both from the hackers and from those “professionals” who would charge them good money for bad information and security systems that are worthless at best, and malicious at worst.
As the commercial for car maintenance says, “You can pay me now or pay me later. When I was awakened that November morning last year, I was certainly glad that the person who had the computerized information about me was working for me and not against me. But is it time to look at who is looking at your information and make sure they are interested in your best interests? Next month we will look at more education and security issues.
Helen Flatau, Operations Manager Corporate Education Lewis and Clark Community College 5800 Godfrey Road, Godfrey, IL 62035-2466 www.lc.edu/pci_web.nsf 1-618-468-4652 FAX 618-468-2389 1-800-500-LCCC xPCI