Jason O'Grady's Blog

It looks like there’s been another huge breach of your privacy. The good news is that it doesn’t affect you, unless you own a credit card. This time it’s MasterCard’s baby, I blame them for chosing CardSystems as their partner. What’s scary is that these are the stories that we hear about… imagine the ones that we don’t.

ZDNet: The data security breach, possibly the largest to date, happened because intruders were able to exploit software security vulnerabilities to install a rogue program on the network of CardSystems Solutions, MasterCard International spokeswoman Jessica Antle said. The program captured credit card data, she said.

The malicious code was discovered after a probe into the security of CardSystems’ network. That investigation, by security experts from Cybertrust, was triggered by a MasterCard inquiry into atypical reports of fraud by several banks. The trail led to CardSystems, Antle said.

Philadelphia Enquirer: The practice came to light on a Web forum frequented by DVD fans. One had bought Julie Taymor’s Titus for $24.49, and noticed a week later that the price had jumped to $26.24.

Then he did an experiment: He deleted all the “cookies” on his computer – the tiny files Web sites use to identify and track return visitors. The price dropped to $22.74.

Faced with this and similar tales, Amazon disavowed the practice, and insisted it had just been experimenting randomly with prices.

But consumers and analysts assumed something else: that Amazon was using its ability to analyze data to make more money by charging more to loyal customers and less to those it was trying to lure.

C|Net: Within the last year, two laptops used by Wells Fargo Home Mortgage were stolen–one in April of this year and one in November 2003.

Another case of carelessness with customer data by one of the largest banks in the U.S.

Morning Edition, June 7, 2005 · Citigroup says computer tapes containing the Social Security numbers and other private data of almost 4 million customers are missing. UPS was transporting the tapes to a credit bureau in Texas when they disappeared. So far, there is no evidence that any of the data has been misused.

If you find yourself in Atlantic City I recommend that check out the new beach bars – the best thing to happen to AC in 15 years. Four were added in 2004 and four more arrived for summer 2005.

Instead of crowding into a smokey gambling den with bad carpet, take a short hike across the boards and over the new dunes to the beach bars: The Sandbox at Caesars and the Beach Bar at Trump Plaza are worth checking out but my favorite is Nikki Beach at Resorts. Not quite the same as Miami, but an excellent nightspot with great house DJs, fine looking Mojitos (although I haven’t had one yet) and a separate live concert venue. Probably the best looking crowd in AC on Friday and Saturday night. $20 for dudes, free for the ladies.

Bally’s Bikini Beach Bar will open tomorrow Thursday, June 9.