A computer hacker who helped orchestrate the theft of tens of millions of credit and debit card numbers from major retailers in one of the largest such thefts in U.S. history pleaded guilty Tuesday in the last of three cases brought by federal prosecutors.
Albert Gonzalez, a one-time federal informant from Miami, faces a prison sentence of up to 25 years under the terms of separate plea agreements. He is tentatively scheduled for sentencing in March.
"This is a young kid who did some reckless things and he's going to pay a price for it," said Gonzalez's attorney, Martin Weinberg, after his 28-year-old client calmly answered guilty to charges of conspiracy and wire fraud.
Weinberg said Gonzalez was remorseful and that he would ask two federal judges hearing the cases to sentence Gonzalez to the lower end of the 17- to 25-year sentencing range spelled out in the plea agreements.
Tuesday's plea stemmed from a case that was originally brought by federal prosecutors in New Jersey, but later transferred to Boston. It charged Gonzalez with conspiracy to gain unauthorized access to computer servers at Hannaford Brothers Inc., a Maine-based supermarket chain; convenience store giant 7-Eleven Inc.; Heartland Payment Systems Inc., a New Jersey-based processor of credit and debit cards; and two unnamed companies.
Gonzalez pleaded guilty in September in two other cases that were combined in Boston. Those cases included charges that he hacked into the computers of prominent retailers such as TJX Cos., BJ's Wholesale Club, OfficeMax, BostonMarket, Barnes & Noble and Sports Authority.
Under questioning Tuesday by U.S. District Court Judge Douglas Woodlock, Gonzalez indicated that he had used alcohol and a number of drugs, including marijuana, cocaine and LSD, prior to his arrest in May 2008.
Federal prosecutors have agreed to seek concurrent sentences in the cases, meaning that Gonzalez would serve no more than 25 years in prison. Weinberg, however, said he would argue for a lesser sentence based on factors including the prior drug abuse and a psychiatrist's report that Gonzalez exhibits behavior consistent with Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism.
The defense-commissioned report by Dr. Barry Roth described Gonzalez as an Internet addict with an "idiot-Savant-like genius for computers and information technology," but socially awkward.
"His personal life has been characterized most of all by awkwardness, impairment, troubles connecting to people, with an overarching preference and predilection to machines and technology," Roth wrote.
Authorities said Gonzalez, who said he had worked as a computer security consultant, was the ringleader of a group that targeted large retailers.
In 2003, Gonzalez was arrested for hacking but was not charged because he became an informant, helping the Secret Service find other hackers. But authorities said he continued to use his talents for illegal activities.
Over the next five years, he hacked into the computer systems of retailers even while providing assistance to the government.
He lived lavishly during that time. Authorities said he amassed $2.8 million and bought a Miami condo and a BMW. Under the plea deals, Gonzalez must forfeit more than $2.7 million, plus his condo, car, a Tiffany ring he gave to his girlfriend and Rolex watches he gave to his father and friends.
Before accepting the plea Tuesday, Woodlock heard Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Heymann outline the sophisticated hacking scheme, which also involved an individual identified only as "P.T." and two individuals identified in the indictment as Hacker 1 and Hacker 2. Heymann said they remain fugitives.
Gonzalez identified potential corporate victims by poring through lists of Fortune 500 companies and by going to retail stores to probe for potential vulnerabilities, Heymann said.
"It was foreseeable to defendant Gonzalez that the losses resulting from unauthorized acces.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
December Identity Newsletter
Identity Theft Newsletter Latest News On The #1 Crime In America & Tips On How To Keep Your ID Your Own!
Welcome to the December 2009 Identity Theft Newsletter...
Identity Theft is the number one white collar crime in America yet most folks bury their heads in the sand believing it will never happen to them.
It is my hope this newsletter will help to pull some of those heads out of the sand and save some from the horror of having their identity stolen...
Have a Happy and Safe Holiday Season!
This Holiday Season, DON'T give a gift to a thief! .
It's been said that the true spirit of the holiday season is in giving, not receiving. With this in mind, it's likely that you will be spending a bit of time shopping for presents, your credit card flying out of your wallet or purse like wind-blown snow.
But as you shop in stores and online, be sure you're not giving a surprise gift to an identity thief. Because the surprise will be on you -- and it won't be a good one.
Sometimes when you do business, you may be asked for your Social Security number. In many cases, those asking don't really need it. If anyone asks for your Social Security number or other identifying information, ask them why they want it and whether they absolutely need it. They can refuse you service if you don't provide it, but consider whether the service is worth the risk.
Web scams net millions; Unwary Canadians are bilked online, watchdog says
It's a case of "caveat clicker" when it comes to avoiding online fraud, according to consumer watchdogs.
The worst Top 10 Scams of 2009 have an e-commerce focus this year, bilking B.C. consumers and businesses of millions of dollars and identity theft.
Online fraud watchdog PhoneBusters.comsays e-mail, Internet and text-messaging scams have bilked Canadian consumers for $16 million between January and November.
"The key to avoid becoming a victim is education," said Pasacreta yesterday. "We still see a huge knowledge gap. Web marketers are savvy to consumers who click first, and ask questions later."
Lynda Pasacreta, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Mainland B.C., said people have flocked to the Internet, without realizing they have to read the fine print before clicking "yes."
This year's online scams run the gamut, from teeth-whitening products to text messages.
People sign up for a free trial, only to be hooked into monthly membership fees of up to $100, and can't get them stopped. Or they get roped into monthly bills for premium text-message services, without realizing that they signed up when playing an online quiz or IQ test.
Facebook Moves to Standardize and Own Customer IDs
Adorning the walls of Facebook's Palo Alto, Calif., headquarters are multiple prints of Rene Magritte's iconic painting The Son of Man. The image of a man's face partly obscured by a green apple is considered a critique of people's attempts to conceal their true selves. It's also an apt metaphor for the millions who spend time on the Web trying to keep their own identities hidden, say executives at Facebook, the world's largest social network. "Part of what Facebook is trying to do is help people take the apple away," says Facebook Vice-President of Product Chris Cox.
There's good reason to push people to be up front about who they are on the Web, where million of users enshrouded in anonymity engage in everything from bullying to spamming, identity theft to financial fraud. To help users establish their identities online, Web sites such as Amazon and eBay's PayPal require customers to enter personal information on a site-by-site basis. Yet there's a dearth of widely accepted identity standards "the online equivalents of a driver's license or Social Security Number. "There isn't anything built into the architecture of the Web that lets you verify who you are," says Jules Polonetsky, director of the Future of Privacy Forum.
U.S. Census underway, beware of false workers
With the U.S. Census process beginning, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) advises people to be cooperative, but cautious, so as not to become a victim of fraud or identity theft. There are always con artists lurking when you least expect them.
The first phase of the 2010 US Census is underway as workers have begun verifying the addresses of households across the country. Eventually, more than 140,000 US Census workers will count every person across the nation and will gather information about every person living at each address including name, age, gender, race and other relevant data.
The big question is " how do you tell the difference between a U.S. Census worker and a con artist?
#################
Be safe out there,
Kathleen Fulgham
Secure Data solutions
661-256-6642
fulghamkathleen@yahoo.com
Add Us To Your Address Book
To help ensure that you receive all email messages consistently in your inbox with images displayed, please add this address to your address book or contacts list: kathleenfulgham@yahoo.com
Special Tips for CyberSafe Seniors
Is there a Special Senior Citizen among your family and friends who still hasn't seen the value and benefit in the Invisus Direct services to protect their PC and their personal identity? Perhaps they just don't trust their computer when it involves spending money.
Yet...they still want to shop conveniently or call the catalog companies with card in hand?
Perhaps the most loving thing you can do -- especially during the holidays when shopping is at its peak -- is to offer to help them with using their credit cards safely. (After all, they do trust you, their family member.) So, you ask, How can this be done? Connie Kiser, Invisus associate, suggests this, as both a practical and personal example regarding how she helps her own 73-year old mother:
"There are times when she needs to purchase airfare or other items online or order items from a catalog, where an individual takes the credit card order. Yet, I know that her laptop is still unprotected, and giving her credit card info to a stranger on the phone...neither of these situations is secure or totally trustworthy in the least. Open invitation for cyberfraud and identity theft!
Knowing that my PC is completely protected with our Invisus service, I told her I would take care of matters for her -- purchasing online with MY PC whatever and whenever she needs it. Thus, saving her from potential devastation.
That lets her remain hassle-free, worry-free (both of us!), and most importantly, restores our peace of mind."
~ Connie Kiser
10 Online Shopping Tips
1. Protect your computer: A computer used for online shopping should always have the the best anti-virus and anti-spyware as well as secure firewall. Remember, not all security software is the same!
2. Trust your gut: Offers in unsolicited e-mails that sound too good to be true ARE too good to be true. The price for taking this offer up may be too dear!
3. Beware of phishing scams: Legitimate businesses do not send e-mails claiming problems with an order or an account to lure the "buyer" into revealing financial information.
4. Confirm your online purchase is secure: Look for Https is the address bar signifying it's a secure page. Scammer generally won't take the time to set up secure sites. Note the closed padlock in your browser to back up the Https
5.Beware of emails coming for eBay scammers: It's difficult to tell a real from a fake. If you are seeking deals on eBay go right to the site don't respond to emails. If you do decide to make a purchase on eBay check the eBay sellers history. eBay is set up on the honor system and an established seller with great feedback should be legitimate.
6. Pay with a credit card: It's best to use a credit card because under federal law, the shopper can dispute the charges if he or she doesn't receive the item.
7. Avoid paying by check online/Mail order: Once the money is taken from your account and you don't receive the goods, you are likely out of luck!
8. Keep documentation of your order: After completing the online order process, there may be a final confirmation page or the shopper might receive confirmation by e-mail. Keep a copy of the Web page and any e-mails for future reference and as a record of the purchase.
9. Check your credit card statements often: The BBB recommends consumers check their credit card statements for suspicious activity by checking statements online regularly or by calling credit card companies.
10. Know your rights: Federal law requires that orders made by mail, phone or online be shipped by the date promised or, if no delivery time was stated, within 30 days. If the products you ordered aren't shipped on time, you can cancel your order and demand a refund.
http://www.sfi4.com/10882008/FREE
10 Online Shopping Tips
1. Protect your computer: A computer used for online shopping should always have the the best anti-virus and anti-spyware as well as secure firewall. Remember, not all security software is the same!
2. Trust your gut: Offers in unsolicited e-mails that sound too good to be true ARE too good to be true. The price for taking this offer up may be too dear!
3. Beware of phishing scams: Legitimate businesses do not send e-mails claiming problems with an order or an account to lure the "buyer" into revealing financial information.
4. Confirm your online purchase is secure: Look for Https is the address bar signifying it's a secure page. Scammer generally won't take the time to set up secure sites. Note the closed padlock in your browser to back up the Https
5.Beware of emails coming for eBay scammers: It's difficult to tell a real from a fake. If you are seeking deals on eBay go right to the site don't respond to emails. If you do decide to make a purchase on eBay check the eBay sellers history. eBay is set up on the honor system and an established seller with great feedback should be legitimate.
6. Pay with a credit card: It's best to use a credit card because under federal law, the shopper can dispute the charges if he or she doesn't receive the item.
7. Avoid paying by check online/Mail order: Once the money is taken from your account and you don't receive the goods, you are likely out of luck!
8. Keep documentation of your order: After completing the online order process, there may be a final confirmation page or the shopper might receive confirmation by e-mail. Keep a copy of the Web page and any e-mails for future reference and as a record of the purchase.
9. Check your credit card statements often: The BBB recommends consumers check their credit card statements for suspicious activity by checking statements online regularly or by calling credit card companies.
10. Know your rights: Federal law requires that orders made by mail, phone or online be shipped by the date promised or, if no delivery time was stated, within 30 days. If the products you ordered aren't shipped on time, you can cancel your order and demand a refund.
Welcome to the December 2009 Identity Theft Newsletter...
Identity Theft is the number one white collar crime in America yet most folks bury their heads in the sand believing it will never happen to them.
It is my hope this newsletter will help to pull some of those heads out of the sand and save some from the horror of having their identity stolen...
Have a Happy and Safe Holiday Season!
This Holiday Season, DON'T give a gift to a thief! .
It's been said that the true spirit of the holiday season is in giving, not receiving. With this in mind, it's likely that you will be spending a bit of time shopping for presents, your credit card flying out of your wallet or purse like wind-blown snow.
But as you shop in stores and online, be sure you're not giving a surprise gift to an identity thief. Because the surprise will be on you -- and it won't be a good one.
Sometimes when you do business, you may be asked for your Social Security number. In many cases, those asking don't really need it. If anyone asks for your Social Security number or other identifying information, ask them why they want it and whether they absolutely need it. They can refuse you service if you don't provide it, but consider whether the service is worth the risk.
Web scams net millions; Unwary Canadians are bilked online, watchdog says
It's a case of "caveat clicker" when it comes to avoiding online fraud, according to consumer watchdogs.
The worst Top 10 Scams of 2009 have an e-commerce focus this year, bilking B.C. consumers and businesses of millions of dollars and identity theft.
Online fraud watchdog PhoneBusters.comsays e-mail, Internet and text-messaging scams have bilked Canadian consumers for $16 million between January and November.
"The key to avoid becoming a victim is education," said Pasacreta yesterday. "We still see a huge knowledge gap. Web marketers are savvy to consumers who click first, and ask questions later."
Lynda Pasacreta, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Mainland B.C., said people have flocked to the Internet, without realizing they have to read the fine print before clicking "yes."
This year's online scams run the gamut, from teeth-whitening products to text messages.
People sign up for a free trial, only to be hooked into monthly membership fees of up to $100, and can't get them stopped. Or they get roped into monthly bills for premium text-message services, without realizing that they signed up when playing an online quiz or IQ test.
Facebook Moves to Standardize and Own Customer IDs
Adorning the walls of Facebook's Palo Alto, Calif., headquarters are multiple prints of Rene Magritte's iconic painting The Son of Man. The image of a man's face partly obscured by a green apple is considered a critique of people's attempts to conceal their true selves. It's also an apt metaphor for the millions who spend time on the Web trying to keep their own identities hidden, say executives at Facebook, the world's largest social network. "Part of what Facebook is trying to do is help people take the apple away," says Facebook Vice-President of Product Chris Cox.
There's good reason to push people to be up front about who they are on the Web, where million of users enshrouded in anonymity engage in everything from bullying to spamming, identity theft to financial fraud. To help users establish their identities online, Web sites such as Amazon and eBay's PayPal require customers to enter personal information on a site-by-site basis. Yet there's a dearth of widely accepted identity standards "the online equivalents of a driver's license or Social Security Number. "There isn't anything built into the architecture of the Web that lets you verify who you are," says Jules Polonetsky, director of the Future of Privacy Forum.
U.S. Census underway, beware of false workers
With the U.S. Census process beginning, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) advises people to be cooperative, but cautious, so as not to become a victim of fraud or identity theft. There are always con artists lurking when you least expect them.
The first phase of the 2010 US Census is underway as workers have begun verifying the addresses of households across the country. Eventually, more than 140,000 US Census workers will count every person across the nation and will gather information about every person living at each address including name, age, gender, race and other relevant data.
The big question is " how do you tell the difference between a U.S. Census worker and a con artist?
#################
Be safe out there,
Kathleen Fulgham
Secure Data solutions
661-256-6642
fulghamkathleen@yahoo.com
Add Us To Your Address Book
To help ensure that you receive all email messages consistently in your inbox with images displayed, please add this address to your address book or contacts list: kathleenfulgham@yahoo.com
Special Tips for CyberSafe Seniors
Is there a Special Senior Citizen among your family and friends who still hasn't seen the value and benefit in the Invisus Direct services to protect their PC and their personal identity? Perhaps they just don't trust their computer when it involves spending money.
Yet...they still want to shop conveniently or call the catalog companies with card in hand?
Perhaps the most loving thing you can do -- especially during the holidays when shopping is at its peak -- is to offer to help them with using their credit cards safely. (After all, they do trust you, their family member.) So, you ask, How can this be done? Connie Kiser, Invisus associate, suggests this, as both a practical and personal example regarding how she helps her own 73-year old mother:
"There are times when she needs to purchase airfare or other items online or order items from a catalog, where an individual takes the credit card order. Yet, I know that her laptop is still unprotected, and giving her credit card info to a stranger on the phone...neither of these situations is secure or totally trustworthy in the least. Open invitation for cyberfraud and identity theft!
Knowing that my PC is completely protected with our Invisus service, I told her I would take care of matters for her -- purchasing online with MY PC whatever and whenever she needs it. Thus, saving her from potential devastation.
That lets her remain hassle-free, worry-free (both of us!), and most importantly, restores our peace of mind."
~ Connie Kiser
10 Online Shopping Tips
1. Protect your computer: A computer used for online shopping should always have the the best anti-virus and anti-spyware as well as secure firewall. Remember, not all security software is the same!
2. Trust your gut: Offers in unsolicited e-mails that sound too good to be true ARE too good to be true. The price for taking this offer up may be too dear!
3. Beware of phishing scams: Legitimate businesses do not send e-mails claiming problems with an order or an account to lure the "buyer" into revealing financial information.
4. Confirm your online purchase is secure: Look for Https is the address bar signifying it's a secure page. Scammer generally won't take the time to set up secure sites. Note the closed padlock in your browser to back up the Https
5.Beware of emails coming for eBay scammers: It's difficult to tell a real from a fake. If you are seeking deals on eBay go right to the site don't respond to emails. If you do decide to make a purchase on eBay check the eBay sellers history. eBay is set up on the honor system and an established seller with great feedback should be legitimate.
6. Pay with a credit card: It's best to use a credit card because under federal law, the shopper can dispute the charges if he or she doesn't receive the item.
7. Avoid paying by check online/Mail order: Once the money is taken from your account and you don't receive the goods, you are likely out of luck!
8. Keep documentation of your order: After completing the online order process, there may be a final confirmation page or the shopper might receive confirmation by e-mail. Keep a copy of the Web page and any e-mails for future reference and as a record of the purchase.
9. Check your credit card statements often: The BBB recommends consumers check their credit card statements for suspicious activity by checking statements online regularly or by calling credit card companies.
10. Know your rights: Federal law requires that orders made by mail, phone or online be shipped by the date promised or, if no delivery time was stated, within 30 days. If the products you ordered aren't shipped on time, you can cancel your order and demand a refund.
http://www.sfi4.com/10882008/FREE
10 Online Shopping Tips
1. Protect your computer: A computer used for online shopping should always have the the best anti-virus and anti-spyware as well as secure firewall. Remember, not all security software is the same!
2. Trust your gut: Offers in unsolicited e-mails that sound too good to be true ARE too good to be true. The price for taking this offer up may be too dear!
3. Beware of phishing scams: Legitimate businesses do not send e-mails claiming problems with an order or an account to lure the "buyer" into revealing financial information.
4. Confirm your online purchase is secure: Look for Https is the address bar signifying it's a secure page. Scammer generally won't take the time to set up secure sites. Note the closed padlock in your browser to back up the Https
5.Beware of emails coming for eBay scammers: It's difficult to tell a real from a fake. If you are seeking deals on eBay go right to the site don't respond to emails. If you do decide to make a purchase on eBay check the eBay sellers history. eBay is set up on the honor system and an established seller with great feedback should be legitimate.
6. Pay with a credit card: It's best to use a credit card because under federal law, the shopper can dispute the charges if he or she doesn't receive the item.
7. Avoid paying by check online/Mail order: Once the money is taken from your account and you don't receive the goods, you are likely out of luck!
8. Keep documentation of your order: After completing the online order process, there may be a final confirmation page or the shopper might receive confirmation by e-mail. Keep a copy of the Web page and any e-mails for future reference and as a record of the purchase.
9. Check your credit card statements often: The BBB recommends consumers check their credit card statements for suspicious activity by checking statements online regularly or by calling credit card companies.
10. Know your rights: Federal law requires that orders made by mail, phone or online be shipped by the date promised or, if no delivery time was stated, within 30 days. If the products you ordered aren't shipped on time, you can cancel your order and demand a refund.
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