Data Security

It seems like there were more companies that had privacy-related problems in 2014 than didn’t. And the lucky ones that didn’t “get got” were separated by only one or two degrees from those that did. As we look ahead to 2015, I see a mix of old privacy concerns along with a few emerging dangers. Breaches are the new normal....

A recent Gallup survey found that 69% of Americans worry “frequently” or “occasionally” about having a credit card compromised by computer hackers. It’s not shocking. Consumers are becoming more educated on the topic, and financial institutions are beginning to do more to combat fraud, including introducing new types of credit cards. One example of the latter is chip-and-PIN technology,...

Ebola is a scary disease. Its spread in sub-Saharan Africa has captured the world’s attention as the death toll approaches 5,000, and President Obama appointed an official “Ebola Czar.” Talking heads and media outlets in the United States have even started talking about a travel ban on countries from the West African outbreak zone. In the midst of such widespread...

Increasingly, legions of sophisticated hackers are infiltrating the most state-of-the-art data security strategies out there. The recent data compromises at Kmart and JPMorgan are in no way similar, except they share a common enemy. And while free retina scanners are probably a stretch, biometrics – the use of your biological data like fingerprints -- may well be the next...

The olive branch after the deluge of news about the JPMorgan data breach that exposed the personally identifiable information of 83 million customers was that no bank account information, or more sensitive personal information like Social Security numbers, had been compromised. What got lost in that torrent of stories was the fact that the information that did get exposed...

My phone is at rest on my desk, charging. I’ve enabled the new “Hey Siri” feature, which was part of the iOS 8 update. Now, the famous concierge feature that offers the world at the touch of a button is always-already on, listening (as long as it is plugged in). Somehow I’m feeling a bit less safe. “Hey Siri,” I...

Whether you’re scanning the surf to protect your little ones from a rogue jellyfish, lazing at home on a stay-cation or carting kids to camp, you’re probably already thinking about your back-to-school to-do lists. While you’re out there searching for the perfect backpack for your child, the more important consideration than style, size and color should be – what can...

Summer is here. There will be barbecues. Sand will find its way into the strangest places. Your family, extended family, kids’ friends and friends of friends—even complete strangers—will sail in and out of your home. But that’s OK, because you’ve fraud-proofed your house...right? Identity theft is a truly democratic crime: Anyone can do it, anyone can become a victim; and...

In the last decade, hackers have illegally accessed more than one billion consumer records. Sadly, many of us are making the job easier for them because of the way we use sites like Facebook and Twitter. I’m Adam Levin and this is the Wall Street Journal Credit Minute With such an enormous treasure trove of data in the hands of fraudsters...

After you’ve booked your transportation and hotel, what should you do to prevent your dream vacation from turning into a nightmare for your credit and your identity? I’m Adam Levin and this is the Wall Street Journal Credit Minute Here are some tips to keep identity thieves at bay while you’re away. Have a trusted family member or neighbor collect your mail...