Column: Equifax left unencrypted data open to Chinese hackers. Most big U.S. companies are just as negligent

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Equifax failed to encrypt the databases that store some of the most sensitive details of people’s lives. Columnist Davidlaz explains how most large U.S. companies similarly do not encrypt the data they take from customers:

the 2017 hack of credit bureau Equifax, resulting in the confidential personal information of about 145 million consumers being stolen.Equifax basically left all our data out on the lawn for anyone to walk off with -- the upshot of failing to encrypt the databases that store some of the most sensitive details of our lives.

“This was a deliberate and sweeping intrusion into the private information of the American people,” he“Unfortunately,” Barr added, “the Equifax hack fits a disturbing and unacceptable pattern of state-sponsored computer intrusions and thefts by China and its citizens that have targeted personally identifiable information, trade secrets and other confidential information.”

To be sure, the breach likely wouldn’t have happened if Equifax had kept its guard up. But the fact that its crown jewels -- our data -- were completely up for grabs once the hackers broke through is no less reckless. So the bad guys were using encryption to cover their tracks. But Equifax had no qualms about leaving all of that information unencrypted, readily accessible to any intruder.

 

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Davidlaz One of the effects of the breach is that sensible people froze their credit accounts. But this means that when you want to set up your My Social Security account, you have to go to the Social Security office to get a code to allow you to set it up. But then, we’re just product.

Davidlaz There should be thousands of lawsuits. Oh wait, this corporate government will probably just grant everyone at Equifax immunity.

Davidlaz also never got that like $50 check or whatever it was they were supposed to send after getting sued. Also cool of them

Davidlaz The class action suit was a huge scam

Davidlaz If their degree of leftism is documented, the next run of the gauntlet for young people in the securing of their livelihood is getting approval from these corrupt corporations.

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