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Hackers are using illegal means to create cryptocurrency at an increasing rate thanks to a software vulnerability leaked by the National Security Agency, says a new report shining light on a novel criminal aspect of cryptocurrency.

Illicit cryptocurrency mining—the crypto equivalent to minting money—of Monero, bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies rose 459 percent between 2017 and 2018, according to the Cyber Threat Alliance, the organization that published the report.

“The threat of illicit cryptocurrency mining represents an increasingly common cybersecurity risk for enterprises and individuals,” stated the report.

Mining cryptocurrency requires high-powered computers to complete complicated math problems to create new coins or tokens. Cryptocurrencies like bitcoin are built to release a finite number of coins. Rather than relying on high-powered computers of their own, hackers are illegally gaining access to vulnerable computers and networks, then siphoning computing power towards their mining operation.

Continue reading “Hackers are increasingly gaining access to systems to mine cryptocurrency, report finds”

A U.S. district court has found that two graduates of a Massachusetts for-profit college have standing to challenge the U.S. Department of Education’s recent decision to delay implementation of the borrower defense regulation, which shifts loan repayment responsibility from the student to the school if it’s found that the school engaged in misconduct.

The rule was scheduled to go in effect in July 2017, the Associated Press reports. The regulation, issued by the Obama administration, was meant to police for-profit colleges, and protect students. Education secretary Betsy DeVos, also a defendant in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia action, wanted to delay the rule on the basis that the regulations were too broad and allowed for possible abuse of students.

Continue reading “Students can challenge Education Department over loan forgiveness, judge rules”

Almost half of Americans, including me, were victimized last year when our personal information may have been exposed in a data breach at credit bureau Equifax.

It was like being stranded naked on the 50-yard line of a crowded football stadium. You wondered how many people were looking at you, but there was little you could do to cover yourself.

We feared we could be exploited by crooks, with our names and information being used to apply for credit cards or loans, not to mention being sold over and over to other identity thieves. And when we tried to do something to protect ourselves, by freezing our credit, we were told we’d have to pay to do that.

That was discouraging and offensive.

Why should we have to pay the credit bureaus to freeze our own credit? Why should the industry profit from an inexcusable mistake by one of its prominent members?

A year later, Equifax hasn’t paid enough for its blunder that may have exposed the data of nearly 148 million people. But its breach prompted Congress to change the system and prohibit credit bureaus from charging for freezes.

A law took effect Friday that requires freezes to be free. There also cannot be a charge to temporarily lift a freeze to apply for credit or have your credit checked.

While Equifax offered free credit freezes — it initially charged for them but relented amid criticism that it was profiting from its error — after the breach, the other two major credit bureaus, Experian and TransUnion, continued to charge fees. The amounts varied and were set by state laws. The cost to most Pennsylvanians was $10 for a freeze and $10 every time you wanted to temporarily lift it.

Continue reading “Credit freezes now are free”

Talk of transitions and succession planning is something we are all familiar with right now.  The demographics within many law firms make these areas of focus critical for future success.  While most of these conversations and plans have been focused on getting a more senior Partner to let go of a long-standing client relationship to keep it within the firm, similar challenges are occurring with respect to the transition of law firm leadership from the seniors – some of whom have held their positions for over a decade – to the next leader(s).

Each leadership transition is a unique event.  However, over the past several months I have worked with three partnerships with the same general challenge – getting a beloved, revered, and trusted leader to “let go” and help prepare the firm for the next version of its leadership structure.  In each firm, I heard the Partners universally say the same things –

Continue reading “The Key to Leadership Succession with a Revered Managing Partner – Certainty”

The stakes were very high: Puerto Rican refugees, victims of Hurricane Maria were about to become homeless as FEMA planned to cancel it’s Temporary Shelter Assistance program.  Thousands of refugees living in hotels and motels would find themselves evicted, many having nowhere to go.  A telephonic hearing and a last minute ruling required FEMA to continue the program, but the legal battle continues.  Offering insight on the issues at hand are attorneys Craig de Recat and Justin Jones Rodriguez of the law firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, who, along with Eve Torres of Manatt, LatinoJustice and the Law Offices of Hector E. Pineiro, are working hard to ensure the victims of Hurricane Maria receive the proper assistance and due process they deserve under the law, holding FEMA accountable to their responsibilities to individuals who have already lost so much.

FEMA announced plan to terminate the Transitional Sheltering Assistance program for victims of Hurricane Maria on June 30th.  The previously mentioned partners filed a lawsuit and emergency motion for a Temporary Restraining Order, a move that would fend off the evictions and compel FEMA to continue providing rent subsidies.  After a telephone conference that evening, Federal Judge Leo Sorokin issued a temporary restraining order to provide shelter throughout the weekend and through the 4th of July holiday.  On July 2nd, another hearing was held with Judge Hillman, who issued a TRO extending the program for a longer stretch of time.

Continue reading “Attorneys Fight for Victims of Hurricane Maria”