Immersion - Uncommon Depth

Cloud Computing Grant to Fight Cancer in Kids

Immersion, Ltd. — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 20:21:39 +0000

This is not a hater post in any way. I love cloud computing, I love kids, I love privacy and I hate cancer. Let’s continue to monitor this and see how they are going to handle the storage of the medical data and what typed of de-identification is used, and if not, what type of encryption is used for the data while it is in transit and at rest.

Source: http://www.ihealthbeat.org/articles/2011/11/11/dell-announces-cloud-computing-initiative-targeting-kids-cancer.aspx

Dell Announces Cloud Computing Initiative Targeting Kids’ Cancer

On Thursday, Dell announced plans to partner with the National Cancer Institute and research organizations on a cloud computing project designed to spur the development of more effective and personalized treatments for children with cancer, InformationWeek reports.

For the initiative — which is part of Dell’s “Powering the Possible” philanthropic giving program — Dell plans to donate:

Cloud computing resources;
Employee IT expertise;
Fundraising resources; and
Volunteers to work at participating centers (Kolbasuk McGee, InformationWeek, 11/10).

Project Details

The project first will target neuroblastoma, a rare and severe type of cancer. Researchers from the Neuroblastoma and Medulloblastoma Translational Research Consortium, the Van Andel Research Institute and the Translational Genomics Research Institute will use Dell’s cloud computing resources to share data and collaborate on a personalized medicine clinical trial for children with neuroblastoma.

The cloud computing resources are expected to dramatically reduce the amount of time needed for genomic mapping and analysis of patients’ tumors. The additional computing power is expected to help researchers identify targeted cancer treatments sooner.

The cloud computing infrastructure also will allow researchers to create a repository of real-time data on pediatric cancer research.

The participating organizations eventually plan to expand the program to include more children and support research on additional types of pediatric cancer (Miliard, Healthcare IT News, 11/10).
Read more: http://www.ihealthbeat.org/articles/2011/11/11/dell-announces-cloud-computing-initiative-targeting-kids-cancer.aspx#ixzz1dQjQdWt2

Man Discovers 50 Identities Using His Social Security Number

Immersion, Ltd. — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 14:16:05 +0000

This is an article that was forwarded to me by a friend of mine in the business. As I started to read the article I continued to be gripped by the dilemna and the unbelievableness (is that a word?) of John Barnett’s story. Whether you are in Cyber Risk and Privacy this article touches on so many issues ranging from ID Theft, Risk, Immigration etc…. The article is from the Red Tape Chronicles.

What’s it like to share your SSN with 50 people?

Follow a victim’s struggle

Jonathan Barnett

By Bob Sullivan

Jonathan Barnett is also Jose Cruz. And Jesus Ramirez. And Pilar Terrones, Pilar Sanchez, Esmeralda Gonzalez and dozens of other people, at least according to the nation’s identity system.

Barnett unintentionally shares his Social Security number with all those people – and probably many more – yet his credit report and Social Security earnings records are completely clean. That seeming contradiction is a big part of his harrowing identity nightmare.

http://redtape.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/07/8687299-whats-it-like-to-share-your-ssn-with-50-people-follow-a-victims-struggle

Money Can Buy You Anything, Even a Residence VISA

Immersion, Ltd. — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 12:50:19 +0000

Many of you know from my posts my concerns regarding China and their aggressive digital invasion practices. Take a look at this article from the Wall Street Jounal.

Source: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203752604576641421449460968.html?mod=WSJAsia_hpp_LEFTTopStories

By NICK TIMIRAOS

The reeling housing market has come to this: To shore it up, two Senators are preparing to introduce a bipartisan bill Thursday that would give residence visas to foreigners who spend at least $500,000 to buy houses in the U.S.

The provision is part of a larger package of immigration measures, co-authored by Sens. Charles Schumer (D., N.Y.) and Mike Lee (R., Utah), designed to spur more foreign investment in the U.S.

Getty ImagesSupporters of the bill, co-authored by Sen. Charles Schumer, say it would help make up for American buyers who are holding back.

Foreigners have accounted for a growing share of home purchases in South Florida, Southern California, Arizona and other hard-hit markets. Chinese and Canadian buyers, among others, are taking advantage not only of big declines in U.S. home prices and reduced competition from Americans but also of favorable foreign exchange rates.

To fuel this demand, the proposed measure would offer visas to any foreigner making a cash investment of at least $500,000 on residential real-estate—a single-family house, condo or townhouse. Applicants can spend the entire amount on one house or spend as little as $250,000 on a residence and invest the rest in other residential real estate, which can be rented out.

The measure would complement existing visa programs that allow foreigners to enter the U.S. if they invest in new businesses that create jobs. Backers believe the initiative would help soak up an excess supply of inventory when many would-be American home buyers are holding back because they’re concerned about their jobs or because they would have to take a big loss to sell their current house.

SEC Provides Guidance on Reporting Cyber Incidents

Immersion, Ltd. — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 13:17:03 +0000

Source: http://www.govinfosecurity.com/articles.php?art_id=4155

The Security and Exchange Commission’s Corporate Finance Division on Wednesday issued guidance that explains how companies should report cyber incidents that could have an adverse affect on their finances or operations.

SEC regulations already require companies to report incidents that could have an unfavorable impact on their corporate financial performance, but did not explicitly refer to cybersecurity risks and cyber incidents. This guidance is, simply, a strong recommendation and does not have the force of an SEC regulation. The commissioners have neither approved nor disapproved of the guidance.

Still, Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., said the guidance is an important forward step in protecting investors.

“For years, cyber risks and incidents material to investors have gone unreported in spite of existing legal obligations to disclose them,” said Rockefeller, who along with other senators last May called for the SEC guidance (see Senators Ask SEC to Issue IT Security Guidance).

“Intellectual property worth billions of dollars has been stolen by cyber criminals, and investors have been kept completely in the dark,” the senator said. “This guidance changes everything. It will allow the market to evaluate companies in part based on their ability to keep their networks secure. We want an informed market and informed consumers, and this is how we do it.”

Bottom of Form

The guidance recognizes that in disclosing an incident the filer needn’t divulge certain details: “We are mindful of potential concerns that detailed disclosures could compromise cybersecurity efforts – for example, by providing a ‘roadmap’ for those who seek to infiltrate a registrant’s network security – and we emphasize that disclosures of that nature are not required under the federal securities laws.”

According to the guidance:

Risk of cyber incidents should be discussed if they are among the most significant factors that make an investment in the company speculative or risky. Companies should consider the probability of cyber incidents occurring and the quantitative and qualitative magnitude of those risks, including the potential costs and other consequences resulting from misappropriation of assets or sensitive information, corruption of data or operational disruption.
Companies should address cybersecurity risks and cyber incidents in their filings’ management discussion if the costs or other consequences from a risk would likely have a material effect on their operations or finances. For instance, if intellectual property is stolen in a cyberattack, and the effects of the theft would likely to be material, the company should describe the stolen property and the effect of the theft on operations and finances.
Companies should disclose in a filing’s description-of-business section the affect on products, services, relationships with customers or suppliers or competitive conditions should a cyber incident have a material affect.
If significant legal proceedings involve cyber incidents, companies should disclose that in their SEC filings.

“As with other operational and financial risks,” the guidance states, “registrants should review, on an ongoing basis, the adequacy of their disclosure relating to cybersecurity risks and cyber incidents.”

Apple: Steve Jobs Has Died – Article from Techland

Immersion, Ltd. — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 12:09:08 +0000

By Doug Aamothon October 5, 2011

Source: : http://techland.time.com/2011/10/05/ap-reports-apple-says-steve-jobs-has-died/#ixzz1a0E9M2tt

Apple CEO Steve Jobs has died at age 56. Apple.com currently shows a solitary photo of Jobs (see above) and simply says, “Steve Jobs 1955-2011.”

(MORE: Technology’s Great Reinventor: Steve Jobs (1955-2011))

A statement from Jobs’ family reads, in full:

“Steve died peacefully today surrounded by his family.

In his public life, Steve was known as a visionary; in his private life, he cherished his family. We are thankful to the many people who have shared their wishes and prayers during the last year of Steve’s illness; a website will be provided for those who wish to offer tributes and memories.

We are grateful for the support and kindness of those who share our feelings for Steve. We know many of you will mourn with us, and we ask that you respect our privacy during our time of grief.”

Jobs has been instrumental in many of Apple’s hit products, stretching back to 1976 with the Apple I, all the way to the modern-day iPhone and iPad. He revealed to Apple employees in 2004 that he’d been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and underwent a liver transplant in 2009. In late August of this year, Jobs stepped down as CEO of Apple.

(PHOTOS: Steve Jobs: An Extraordinary Career)

He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Laurene, and their three children. Jobs also has a fourth child from a past relationship named Lisa, after whom he named Apple’s “Lisa” computer in 1983.

Apple’s board of directors has issued the following statement:

“We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today.

Steve’s brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve.

His greatest love was for his wife, Laurene, and his family. Our hearts go out to them and to all who were touched by his extraordinary gifts.”

(MORE: Steve Jobs: His Life and Career in the Pages of TIME)

Another statement on Apple’s website at apple.com/stevejobs reads:

“Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of use who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple.

If you would like to share your thoughts, memories and condolences, please e-mail rememberingsteve@apple.com”

(VIDEO: Steve Jobs’ Career at Apple)

New Apple CEO Tim Cook sent the following e-mail to Apple employees:

“Team,

I have some very sad news to share with all of you. Steve passed away earlier today.

Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple.

We are planning a celebration of Steve’s extraordinary life for Apple employees that will take place soon. If you would like to share your thoughts, memories and condolences in the interim, you can simply email rememberingsteve@apple.com.

No words can adequately express our sadness at Steve’s death or our gratitude for the opportunity to work with him. We will honor his memory by dedicating ourselves to continuing the work he loved so much.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Laurene and his children during this difficult time.

Tim”

Over on TIME.com’s business section, Jobs’ obituary reads, in part:

“Steve Jobs, whose death was announced on Wednesday night, wasn’t a computer scientist, He had no training as a hardware engineer or an industrial designer. The businesses that Apple entered under his leadership — from personal computers to MP3 players to smartphones — all existed before the company got there.

But with astonishing regularity, Jobs did something that few people accomplish even once: he reinvented entire industries. He did it with ones that were new, like PCs, and he did it with ones that were old, such as music. And his pace only accelerated over the years.”

Click here to read the rest of the obituary.

(MORE: The Life and Times of Apple’s Steve Jobs)

Microsoft chairman Bill Gates has issued the following statement:

“I’m truly saddened to learn of Steve Jobs’ death. Melinda and I extend our sincere condolences to his family and friends, and to everyone Steve has touched through his work.

Steve and I first met nearly 30 years ago, and have been colleagues, competitors and friends over the course of more than half our lives.

The world rarely sees someone who has had the profound impact Steve has had, the effects of which will be felt for many generations to come.

For those of us lucky enough to get to work with him, it’s been an insanely great honor. I will miss Steve immensely.”

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has issued the following statement:

“Steve, thank you for being a mentor and a friend. Thanks for showing that what you build can change the world. I will miss you.”

(MORE: Apple Will Still Be Apple, Even Without Steve Jobs)

Google co-founder Sergey Brin has issued the following statement:

“From the earliest days of Google, whenever Larry and I sought inspiration for vision and leadership, we needed to look no farther than Cupertino. Steve, your passion for excellence is felt by anyone who has ever touched an Apple product (including the macbook I am writing this on right now). And I have witnessed it in person the few times we have met. On behalf of all of us at Google and more broadly in technology, you will be missed very much. My condolences to family, friends, and colleagues at Apple.”

Google co-founder Larry Page has issued the following statement:

“I am very, very sad to hear the news about Steve. He was a great man with incredible achievements and amazing brilliance. He always seemed to be able to say in very few words what you actually should have been thinking before you thought it. His focus on the user experience above all else has always been an inspiration to me. He was very kind to reach out to me as I became CEO of Google and spend time offering his advice and knowledge even though he was not at all well. My thoughts and Google’s are with his family and the whole Apple family.”

Google chairman Eric Schmidt has issued the following statement:

“Today is very sad for all of us. Steve defined a generation of style and technology that’s unlikely to be matched again. Steve was so charismatically brilliant that he inspired people to do the impossible, and he will be remembered as the greatest computer innovator in history.”

(MORE: Steve Jobs: 1955-2011)

President Obama has issued the following statement:

“Michelle and I are saddened to learn of the passing of Steve Jobs. Steve was among the greatest of American innovators – brave enough to think differently, bold enough to believe he could change the world, and talented enough to do it.

By building one of the planet’s most successful companies from his garage, he exemplified the spirit of American ingenuity. By making computers personal and putting the internet in our pockets, he made the information revolution not only accessible, but intuitive and fun. And by turning his talents to storytelling, he has brought joy to millions of children and grownups alike. Steve was fond of saying that he lived every day like it was his last. Because he did, he transformed our lives, redefined entire industries, and achieved one of the rarest feats in human history: he changed the way each of us sees the world.

The world has lost a visionary. And there may be no greater tribute to Steve’s success than the fact that much of the world learned of his passing on a device he invented. Michelle and I send our thoughts and prayers to Steve’s wife Laurene, his family, and all those who loved him.”

(LIST: 10 Products That Defined Steve Jobs’ Career)

Walt Disney CEO Robert Iger has issued the following statement:

“Steve Jobs was a great friend as well as a trusted adviser. His legacy will extend far beyond the products he created or the businesses he built. It will be the millions of people he inspired, the lives he changed, and the culture he defined. Steve was such an ‘original,’ with a thoroughly creative, imaginative mind that defined an era. Despite all he accomplished, it feels like he was just getting started. With his passing the world has lost a rare original, Disney has lost a member of our family, and I have lost a great friend. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Laurene and his children during this difficult time.”

Ed Catmull and John Lasseter of Pixar said:

“Steve Jobs was an extraordinary visionary, our very dear friend and the guiding light of the Pixar family. He saw the potential of what Pixar could be before the rest of us, and beyond what anyone ever imagined. Steve took a chance on us and believed in our crazy dream of making computer animated films; the one thing he always said was to simply ‘make it great.’ He is why Pixar turned out the way we did and his strength, integrity and love of life has made us all better people. He will forever be a part of Pixar’s DNA. Our hearts go out to his wife Laurene and their children during this incredibly difficult time.”

(MORE: Steve Jobs: The Man Who Let Us Touch the World)

Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang said:

“Steve was my hero growing up. He not only gave me a lot of personal advice and encouragement, he showed all of us how innovation can change lives. I will miss him dearly, as will the world.”

Twitter CEO Dick Costolo said:

“Once in a rare while, somebody comes along who doesn’t just raise the bar, they create an entirely new standard of measurement.”

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg issued the following statement:

“Tonight, America lost a genius who will be remembered with Edison and Einstein, and whose ideas will shape the world for generations to come. Again and again over the last four decades, Steve Jobs saw the future and brought it to life long before most people could even see the horizon. And Steve’s passionate belief in the power of technology to transform the way we live brought us more than smartphones and iPads: It brought knowledge and power that is reshaping the face of civilization. In New York City’s government, everyone from street construction inspectors to NYPD detectives have harnessed Apple’s products to do their jobs more efficiently and intuitively.”

(MORE: The Pancreatic Cancer That Killed Steve Jobs)

Dell founder Michael Dell issued the following statement:

“Today the world lost a visionary leader, the technology industry lost an iconic legend and I lost a friend and fellow founder. The legacy of Steve Jobs will be remembered for generations to come.”

AOL co-founder Steve Case said:

“I feel honored to have known Steve Jobs. He was the most innovative entrepreneur of our generation. His legacy will live on for the ages.”

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak told CNN:

“It’s like there’s a big hole left in you, and it’s very hard to go back and reflect on all the feelings… Everyone knows what he did—how much life he brought to the world. I think if he had a goal, he certainly far, far overachieved any goals he had from the start of things.

I think Steve Jobs would have had hopes and visions for the future, and he set up Apple Computer really to continue on in his dreams. And I hope that Apple always finds great leaders like him. He made a lot of people happy. How many times can you remember products from a company that just made you happy every time you used them?…

So many people are just so thankful for the life that Steve Jobs largely brought us.”

Steve Jobs, from his 2005 commencement speech at Stanford University:

“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything—all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure—these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.

Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma—which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice.”

Source: : http://techland.time.com/2011/10/05/ap-reports-apple-says-steve-jobs-has-died/#ixzz1a0E9M2tt

Anonymous Threatens to ‘Erase NYSE from the Internet’.

Immersion, Ltd. — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 13:45:18 +0000

October 3, PC Magazine – Anonymous declared “war” on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) the weekend of September 30 and vowed to “erase” it from the Internet October 10 as the Occupy Wall Street protest entered its third week in New York City after a weekend that saw hundreds of protesters arrested during a planned march across the Brooklyn Bridge. “On October 10, NYSE shall be erased from the Internet. On October 10, expect a day that will never, ever be forgotten,” intoned a computer-generated male voice common to many Anonymous videos, in a warning posted on TheAnonMessage YouTube channel. The channel has been used to post several Occupy Wall Street-related video messages since the protest against lax regulation of the financial sector and economic inequality began September 17. Those messages include Anonymous’ initial “official” video regarding Occupy Wall Street, and a warning sent last week to the New York Police Department that threatened retaliation if “the brutality does not stop” against Occupy Wall Street protestors. The threat to “erase” the NYSE from the Internet was not explained, though some speculated Anonymous was planning a Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attack on the public-facing NYSE.com Web site, similar to DDoS attacks the group has used to take down sites in the past. Others felt that would only be a minor setback for the NYSE and guessed that Anonymous was planning a larger attack, perhaps even an attempt to actually disable trading on the exchange. Source: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2394071,00.asp#fbid=HVPcnsT7BOR

Seven Steps to Securing Mobile Devices

Immersion, Ltd. — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 13:21:03 +0000

Elayne Starkey recently gave up her BlackBerry for an iPhone, and uses the Apple mobile device for personal and work doings, securely connecting to the computer system of her employer, the state of Delaware.

Starkey knows the device doesn’t jeopardize the state network because, as the state chief security officer, she had shepherd the adoption of a new policy to allow state employees to use their own devices safely at work, provided they agree to have seven controls placed on their mobile phones. Those controls are:

Strong password.
Password history.
Password that expires.
Inactivity time out.
Lock out after seven failed attempts to log on.
Remote wipe if device is compromised or failure to log on after seven failed tries.
Encryption, if device is capable of employing it.

“We’re not trying to be difficult. We’re not trying to impose rules, but we are working to secure and to prevent data leakage and data loss out of the state network,” Starkey says in an interview with Information Security Media Group’s GovInfoSecurity.com (to listen, select one of the Podcast Options at right).

Delaware implemented the program last fall (see State Battles Data Leakage), and has months of data to show it had succeeded. Until the program was initiated, the state allowed access to the network without the controls being required.

“That was the piece that was keeping me up at night,” Starkey says. “It was kind of an oversight on our part, more or less. We had not locked that down as tightly as we should have. In the beginning, it was not such an issue, but as the smart phones, the smart devices became more and more popular, we found that in our log files, the number of devices accessing the state network were continuing to grow.”

Half of those who had employed their mobile devices to access the state network opted not to use them once the state required the added security. “Surprisingly, we had a number of folks that read through the communications, thought about the security, and said, ‘Nah, you know, I kind of did this as convenience, I thought I would try to just test it out, but I really don’t have a sustainable business need to do this going forward,’” Starkey says.

In the interview, Starkey addresses how the new policy affected the:

Use of BlackBerry devices among state employees and officials.
Cost of securing devices connecting to the network.
Way she uses mobile devices.

Starkey has been Delaware’s state CSO for the past six years. She earned two computer science degrees, a master of science from Rochester Institute of Technology and a bachelor of science from James Madison University.

Source: http://www.govinfosecurity.com/podcasts.php?podcastID=1255&rf=2011-09-30-eg&elq=c9c65dd272994533baa714ccc766d66b&elqCampaignId=475

Businesses Are Failing to Maintain Data Security.

Immersion, Ltd. — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 13:46:04 +0000

September 28, Infoworld – The Payment Card Industry’s Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) has matured in the 6 years since it was enacted, but businesses are failing to maintain their compliance with the security standard, according to a report released by Verizon Business September 28. In the report, Verizon Business analyzed more than 100 PCI compliance cases conducted in the last year. Its basic finding: The vast majority of firms are unable to remain compliant with the 12 requirements of the standard over the course of a year. Only 21 percent of firms stayed compliant with the Data Security Standards between their last successful assessment and their checkup a year later, the report found. The director of global PCI services for Verizon Business said, “We see many organizations do successful implementations, but we see a backslide as the year progresses, and then they end out of compliance for the rest of the year.” Firms had problems with protecting card holder data, tracking and monitoring access to sensitive data, and regularly testing system security and processes, the report states. Source: https://www.infoworld.com/t/data-loss-prevention/businesses-are-failing-maintain-data-security-174219?source=rss_infoworld_top_stories_

Trade Group: Obama’s Cybersecurity Plan Won’t Protect Networks.

Immersion, Ltd. — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 12:54:44 +0000

August 16, The HILL.com – The White House’s cybersecurity plan is too focused on punishing companies that suffer attacks and does little to improve cybersecurity, said the head of an industry association representing firms that would be covered by the plan. Internet Security Alliance president and CEO Larry Clinton argued the White House’s cybersecurity legislative proposal unveiled in May takes an antiquated approach to cybersecurity that fails to recognized how threats have evolved over the past several years.

Source: http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/177071-trade-group-blasts-white-house-cybersecurity-plan

Setting Boundaries for Internet Privacy

Immersion, Ltd. — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 14:21:22 +0000

September 19, The New York Times – Watchful European privacy regulators are wielding increasing influence beyond the Continent’s borders. Last week, they pressed Google, as they had Apple, to change the way it collected data on cellphone locations worldwide. But there is one area where even European regulators appear stymied — the tracking of consumer Internet surfing habits by technology companies, advertisers, Internet service providers and Web businesses that focus on consumers on the basis of online behavior. For 18 months, the European Commission has been considering how to put into practice a 2009 law that regulates software cookies, the unique digital markers that Web sites place on visiting computers to identify consumers and deliver ads tailored to individual interests.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/19/technology/internet/setting-boundaries-for-internet-privacy.html?_r=1