Local Breach Of Sensitive Online Data 2014 By Jones Bartlett Learn ✓ Solved
Local Breach of Sensitive Online Data © 2014 by Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC, an Ascend Learning Company. All rights reserved. Page 1 The EducationS Review, a fictional company, is hit with a data breach that is making headlines. The Olianas-based educational service and test preparation provider inadvertently exposed files of at least 100,000 students in various parts of the country through its Web site. News of the breach was made public on Tuesday morning by a report in the local newspaper.
The files were exposed after the company switched the Internet service providers earlier this year. The sensitive information, which included personal data such as names, birth dates, ethnicities, and learning disabilities, as well as test performance, were easily accessed through a simple Web search and were available for at least seven weeks, according to the report. None of the information was password protected and was intended only to be viewed by EducationS authors. EducationS officials told the local newspaper that access to the information was immediately shut down as soon as the company was informed about the problem. “This brings up two big questions,†said Alex Graham, a senior technology consultant with information technology (IT) security and control firm Lizos.
“Are companies doing enough to protect their data? Also, do companies really need to keep all this kind of data?" A competing test preparation firm discovered the flaw. The competitor contacted the local newspaper with the story, according to Alex, who said the play-out points to the high stakes were now involved with a data breach. If companies have not heard this before, it is a huge reminder that security is important not just for the company’s customers, but for the company’s reputation as well. While the publishing of birth dates may not seem like a massive leak, Alex said the information is a good stepping-stone for someone who is attempting to steal an identity.
This is the second time in a month a public breach has involved birth dates. A glitch in a test version of social networking site, Facebook, inadvertently exposed the birthdays of its 80 million members last month. Alex discovered the bug while checking Facebook’s new design. He noticed that the birth dates of some of his privacy-obsessed acquaintances were popping up when they should have been hidden. The fact that the people affected by this latest breach were children adds to the general background radiation about security, or lack thereof, of peoples' data on the Web.
Local Breach of Sensitive Online Data © 2014 by Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC, an Ascend Learning Company. All rights reserved. Page 1 The EducationS Review, a fictional company, is hit with a data breach that is making headlines. The Olianas - based educational service and test preparation provider inadvertently exposed files of at least 100,000 students in various parts of the country through its Web site. News of the breach was made public on Tuesday morning by a report in the local ne wspaper.
The files were exposed after the company switched the Internet service providers earlier this year. The sensitive information, which included personal data such as names, birth dates, ethnicities, and learning disabilities, as well as test perform ance, were easily accessed through a simple Web search and were available for at least seven weeks, according to the report. None of the information was password protected and was intended only to be viewed by EducationS authors. EducationS officials told the local newspaper that access to the information was immediately shut down as soon as the company was informed about the problem. “This brings up two big questions,†said Alex Graham, a senior technology consultant with information technology (IT) securi ty and control firm Lizos.
“Are companies doing enough to protect their data? Also, do companies really need to keep all this kind of data?" A competing test preparation firm discovered the flaw. The competitor contacted the local newspaper with the story, according to Alex, who said the play - out points to the high stakes were now involved with a data breach. If companies have not heard this before, it is a huge reminder that security is important not just for the company’s customers, but for the company’s reputation as well. While the publishing of birth dates may not seem like a massive leak, Alex said the information is a good stepping - stone for someone who is attempting to steal an identity.
This is the second time in a month a public breach has involved birth dates. A glitch in a test version of social networking site, Facebook, inadvertently exposed the birthdays of its 80 million members last month. Alex discovered the bug while checking Facebook’s new design. He noticed that the birth dates of some of his privacy - obsessed acquaintances were popping up when they should have been hidden. The fact that the people affected by this latest breach were children adds to the general background radiation about security, or lack thereof, of peoples' data on the W eb.
Local Breach of Sensitive Online Data © 2014 by Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC, an Ascend Learning Company. All rights reserved. Page 1 The EducationS Review, a fictional company, is hit with a data breach that is making headlines. The Olianas-based educational service and test preparation provider inadvertently exposed files of at least 100,000 students in various parts of the country through its Web site. News of the breach was made public on Tuesday morning by a report in the local newspaper.
The files were exposed after the company switched the Internet service providers earlier this year. The sensitive information, which included personal data such as names, birth dates, ethnicities, and learning disabilities, as well as test performance, were easily accessed through a simple Web search and were available for at least seven weeks, according to the report. None of the information was password protected and was intended only to be viewed by EducationS authors. EducationS officials told the local newspaper that access to the information was immediately shut down as soon as the company was informed about the problem. “This brings up two big questions,†said Alex Graham, a senior technology consultant with information technology (IT) security and control firm Lizos.
“Are companies doing enough to protect their data? Also, do companies really need to keep all this kind of data?" A competing test preparation firm discovered the flaw. The competitor contacted the local newspaper with the story, according to Alex, who said the play-out points to the high stakes were now involved with a data breach. If companies have not heard this before, it is a huge reminder that security is important not just for the company’s customers, but for the company’s reputation as well. While the publishing of birth dates may not seem like a massive leak, Alex said the information is a good stepping-stone for someone who is attempting to steal an identity.
This is the second time in a month a public breach has involved birth dates. A glitch in a test version of social networking site, Facebook, inadvertently exposed the birthdays of its 80 million members last month. Alex discovered the bug while checking Facebook’s new design. He noticed that the birth dates of some of his privacy-obsessed acquaintances were popping up when they should have been hidden. The fact that the people affected by this latest breach were children adds to the general background radiation about security, or lack thereof, of peoples' data on the Web.
Paper for above instructions
Title: Analysis of the Local Breach of Sensitive Online Data: Case Study of EducationS ReviewIntroduction
In 2014, EducationS Review, a fictional educational service and test provider, suffered a significant data breach that exposed sensitive personal information of approximately 100,000 students. Such incidents highlight pressing issues regarding data security, the necessity of appropriate data handling practices, and the repercussions that follow lapses in security protocols (Jones & Bartlett Learning, 2014). This paper analyzes the circumstances surrounding the breach, evaluates the responses by the involved parties, and tackles critical questions posed by industry experts regarding data protection measures in the current landscape.
Background of the Breach
The harsh reality of the incident began when EducationS switched its Internet service provider earlier in the year. Following this transition, sensitive files that contained personal data—including names, birth dates, ethnicities, and learning disabilities—became accessible through a simple web search. This exposure persisted for at least seven weeks, with no password protection safeguarding the data (Jones & Bartlett Learning, 2014). The lack of precaution illustrates a failure to address privacy concerns and the security needs of sensitive data, especially data pertaining to minors, who are particularly vulnerable.
The Role of Competition in Highlighting Security Lapses
Interestingly, the breach came to light not through EducationS' internal measures but rather via a competing test preparation firm that discovered the vulnerability and notified the local newspaper. This scenario raises concerns about the extent to which companies monitor their rivals and use unethical means, such as whistleblowing, to gain market advantage. Such actions may catalyze greater scrutiny on companies regarding their data protection prowess and ethical standards in business operations (Kumar & Dhiman, 2018). It acts as a reminder that companies must remain vigilant about not only protecting sensitive information but also ensuring that they do not become the story behind breaches that arise out of competitive dynamics.
Expert Insights: Data Protection Measures
Alex Graham, an IT security consultant, posed two pivotal questions amid the analysis of the breach: "Are companies doing enough to protect their data?" and "Do companies really need to keep all this kind of data?" These queries emphasize the prevalent debate surrounding data retention policies and security protocols.
Data protection is now inherent in maintaining a positive reputation. Organizations often invest heavily in cybersecurity, yet incidents like the EducationS breach spotlight the gaps that still persist (Ponemon Institute, 2020). One fundamental responsibility of organizations that handle sensitive student data is the implementation of encryption methods, careful access controls, and regular security assessments. The absence of such measures, as seen in this case, underlines the importance of developing a proactive security culture and educating staff on data handling procedures (Peters et al., 2018).
The Ethical Implications of Data Breaches
The ethical implications of mishandling sensitive data lead to severe consequences. In the case of EducationS, the exposure of birth dates—the result of negligence—trivially involves the potential for identity theft (McKenzie, 2019). Additionally, the data breach raises important discussions about the moral obligation companies hold regarding privacy, especially for vulnerable populations such as children. Organizations face criticism not just from a legal perspective but also from societal ethical standards when they fail to safeguard sensitive information (Floyd et al., 2019).
Conclusion: Lessons Learned and Future Directions
The EducationS case illustrates significant lapses in data protection and the ongoing irrelevance of adequate security measures for sensitive information. Companies require a robust framework to deal with data security adequately, stressing continual monitoring, secure data handling practices, regular audits, and stringent access controls (Simon et al., 2017).
Fostering a culture of compliance and prioritizing privacy as a core organizational value sincerely enhances trust and diminishes the risk of breaches. Furthermore, the ethical implications of data breaches require organizations to introspectively assess their data management policies periodically. Ultimately, enhancing transparency and implementing defensive measures will empower companies to navigate the complexities of data security while protecting their reputation and customer trust.
References
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