Managing Cybersecurity Risks for Boards of Directors

In his latest Ethical Boardroom article, Shawn Tuma explains why it is important for board members to have an active role in their company’s cybersecurity preparation and tells them several key steps they can take to do so. Tuma also explains why cybersecurity is as much a legal issue and business issue as it is …

Learning From the Sony Hack: Where Do We Die First?

Note: this article was previously posted on Norse’s DarkMatters. Where do we die first? For leaders of companies doing business in the digital world (i.e., all companies) this is the question you should be asking yourself when it comes to cyber security and crisis planning. Where does your company die first? The Sony hack shows why …

Cybersecurity Legal Year in Review – #DtSR Podcast

Do not miss this podcast discussing key cybersecurity legal events from 2015. Shawn Tuma joined the DtSR Gang [Rafal Los (@Wh1t3Rabbit), James Jardine (@JardineSoftware), and Michael Santarcangelo (@Catalyst)] on the Down the Security Rabbit Hole podcast. In this episode… Most important cybersecurity-related legal developments of 2015 Tectonic Shift that occurred with “standing” in consumer data …

Social Media Malware: What Is It and How do You Avoid It?

Guest Post by Cassie Phillips You can’t have spent more than a week on the internet without hearing about malware and its adverse effects on your computer or even your smartphone (smartphone malware is on the rise as well). Perhaps you’ve even had to spend half a day cleaning it off your computer yourself. It …

FTC v. LabMD: I always give ’em a fair trial before I hang ’em.

The legal findings in FTC v. LabMD. LabMD was vindicated by the November 15, 2015 Initial Decision in FTC v. LabMD (the Decision). In the Decision, the Chief Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) ordered the FTC to dismiss its Complaint against LabMD based on the following findings as to LabMD’s 2008 “data breach”: There was “no evidence that …

SEC v. R.T. Jones shows the SEC has a role in regulating cybersecurity

The federal security laws require registered investment advisers to adopt written policies and procedures reasonably designed to protect customer records and information. SEC v. R.T. Jones Capital Equities Management, Consent Order (Sept. 22, 2015). “Firms must adopt written policies to protect their clients’ private information and they need to anticipate potential cybersecurity events and have …

FTC v. Wyndham Worldwide Solidifies the FTC’s Role in Regulating Cybersecurity

The FTC has authority to regulate cybersecurity under the unfairness prong of § 45(a) of the Federal Trade Commission Act and companies have fair notice that their specific cybersecurity practices could fall short of that provision. F.T.C. v. Wyndham Worldwide Corp., 799 F.3d 236 (3rd Cir. Aug. 24, 2015). Here are a few key points …

Cover the Basics for Securing Your Network — Shawn Tuma’s Book Contribution

Shawn Tuma authored a section for an eBook published by Fortinet Security. You can read Tuma’s section, Cover the Basics, as well as download the complete eBook at this link: Cover the Basics- by Shawn E. Tuma | MightyGuides.com

Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield’s big data breach and the security lessons we all need to learn

Guest Post by Debbie Fletcher There are two possible conversations that could be kicked off by the news of the major data breach at Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield in which more than 10 million customer accounts were exposed. The first possible conversation is about internet security and what businesses and organizations of all sizes …

Would increasing CFAA penalties via the CISA Amendment really even help? I don’t think so.

As the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (CISA) is making its way through the Senate, it has stirred up more controversy with Senator Sheldon Whitehouse’s proposed amendment to the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA), that he argues, would give law enforcement more tools to fight hackers. The Amendment would provide for increased sentences (up to …