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Spring 2001
News at DSI:
Shannon Wiegner continues in her position as our staff investigator for our background investigations
clients and is receiving plaudits from same for her excellent work. Already she is preparing for the major Spring rush which should start in the next month.
(Humor {read 'puns'} in this issue is in the form of handy engineering conversions. Ex.: 1 Million microphones = 1 mega
-phone. <G>)
Public Record Sources
As the mood of the public and state and federal legislatures swings back and forth, but mostly back, the
availability of public records becomes more difficult. Added to this problem is the issue of various clerks
of courts around the country arbitrarily creating and/or hiking fees to access their records (See next item).
We have written about these problems in earlier issues of The Inquirer. Here again is a summarization
for everyone's edification. The Drivers' Privacy Protection Act, 18 U.S.C. § 2721 et. seq., ("Act") prohibits state motor vehicle agencies from disclosing personal information contained in their records
except for certain permitted uses. Laws of individual states may be more restrictive than the Act. State
laws when enacted are mostly more restrictive. In Pennsylvania, the law requires authorization from the driver/consumer for employment purposes and sends notification to the driver's residence whenever a
record is furnished to a third party. Many other states have similar restrictions and requirements.
The enacting of these state laws has caused a number of commercial nationwide information brokers to
stop providing driver histories because of the increased costs and record-keeping requirements (basically 50 different sets of rules). Severe penalties have prompted other brokers to cease this service
.
Ratio of an igloo's circumference to its diameter = 1 Eskimo Pi )
All of this has forced investigative and verification services to scramble to identify and contract with as
many brokers as can be located to fulfill client needs. Ultimately, the results have been slower service and higher fees for the client.
8 nickels = 2 paradigms | 100 rations =1 C-ration
Public Record Sources II
The great increase in background investigations over the past 10 years has also led to problems with the
primary source of these records, the county courthouse. To offset the tremendous costs associated with maintaining the records and keeping them current, many clerks of courts or their political superiors have
seen fit to levy a fee for performing the search or for providing the electronic database (& equipment) that
researchers access. But you have to question the true definition of 'public' when you learn that Luzerne County, PA, is now charging $15.00 to search their records and Delaware County is charging $10.00.
Bucks County, PA, is online and charges $1.00 per minute for access. and every day we learn that another county is setting fees. Meanwhile Montgomery County, PA who was the leader in providing this
information to the public eliminated their fee and furnishes the database gratis.
2000 lbs. of Chinese soup = 1 Won Ton
Half a large intestine = One semicolon
Gov. Ridge (PA) dives into the fray
Ridge offered in his budget address a call to revise the 44 yr. old public-records law. He plans to focus
on toughening penalties for withholding(!) documents already considered to be public and incorporating electronic records into the statute. (Good!) You can find the full story on the Inquirer website or contact
us and we will fax you a copy. (Phila.Inq.2/8/01)
The weight an evangelist carries with God = 1 Billigram.
E-mailers getting the sack
Last issue we reported that a major pharmaceutical company disciplined and in a few instances
terminated a number of employees because of violations of company e-mail policy. The trend continues
to escalate. This time we report Computer Associates (VA.) terminated several employees for emailing a sexually explicit joke and in the U.K., an insurance company sacked 10 and suspended 70 for
emailing an obscene cartoon. Locally, we were pressed into service to observe the termination of a young man whose employer had determined that he had been a regular visitor to porn websites that
espoused violence. The issue is 'claims of a hostile workplace' and even third party copyright infringement claims. Under the 2 yr.-old Digital Millennium Copyright Act, material circulated via e-mail
without permission or the requisite copyright notice could cost a first-time offender $500,000 in fines and/or prison time. So your question is, "Who would find out and how?" How about a disgruntled
employee who used to enjoy and participate, now e-mails Playboy or the Recording Industry of America to report the goings-on and to 'dime out' the employer!
Medical Records Now Open
One of the last things Clinton did before leaving office (& taking the office with him!) was to push through
new /changed federal medical privacy regulations. The keyword is 'regulations', meaning something that does not have to pass congressional muster apparently.
These regs would explicitly permit doctors, hospitals and 'other health services' and "some of their business associates" for the first time, to use personal health
records for marketing and fund-raising. (Ph.Inq.2/01) Watch out for this one!
1 Kilogram of falling figs = 1 Fig Newton
Email wiretapping
If you use Outlook 2000, Outlook Express 5 or Netscape Messenger 6, be aware that there is new code
out there that can be added to email messages that will report to the original sender what you did with his email message, such as monitoring the path it takes and the comments you might add to it before
forwarding it. Think if the message concerned some sort of negotiation, one side could learn what the other side's reaction or response might be. Such 'wiretapping' could also capture thousands of email
addresses as the original message was forwarded around the world. Learn more about it at: http://privacyfoundation.org
Employee sues over wiretap violations
Hawaiian Airlines was sued by a pilot employee when a vice-president accessed the pilot's personal (&
secure) website using another pilot's name to log onto the site more than 20 times. The veep was
collecting details of the pilot's criticisms of management and labor representatives. The original suit was
dismissed but then reversed by the US Ninth Circuit Appeals Court. According to the court's ruling, "The contents of secure Websites are electronic communications in 'intermediate storage' that are
protected from unauthorized interception." The decision sets a precedent that unauthorized access of private websites may be in violation of both federal Wiretap and 'Stored Communication' acts.
Time it takes to sail 220 yards @ 1 nautical mile per hour = Knot furlong
FBI Infraguard Program Roll-out
This is a cybercrime security initiative designed to improve cooperation between law enforcement and
the private sector. With 56 field offices, Infraguard offers companies an intrusion-alert network based on
encrypted e-mail messages plus a secure website for communicating with law enforcement
agencies about suspicious network activity or attacks. Managed by the National Infrastructure Protection Center (FBI), the program has been criticized in the past for being all input to the FBI and
little output from. (Keyword search: Infraguard, FBI)
453.6 graham crackers = 1 pound cake
Women's Fraud Protection Guide
Womerica.com offers loads of help in fighting fraud schemes. Everything you ever wanted to know about
fraud is available at this location.
3 Miles of intravenous tubing at Yale Univ. Hospital = 1 I.V. League
School Says No to Hugs
The Euless, TX, Jr. H. S. recently disciplined two girls for hugging each other in the hallway - something
that lots of girls do. Principal David Robbins stands by his no hugging rule saying such physical contact is inappropriate(!) because it could lead to other things.(?)
100 senators = not 1 decision
Key-stroke Logging Device Available
A few months ago there was a story in the Phila Inquirer of how the FBI had used a key-stroke logging
device to record a local mob boss's computer activity and then  utilized the collected data to prosecute
him in federal court. Such a device is available through DSI Investigations and inquiries can be directed to us via email. We can either sell you the implement or we
will lease it to you (10 or 30 days) and we will install it, too. But installation is simple and literally can be accomplished (no tools) in less than 30 seconds. We are 99.9%
certain it will never be discovered while installed. Email us at jdallas@dallassecurity.com and we will email you details.
Shortest distance between two jokes = 1 straight line (Think about it)
International Phone scam hits Web-
We reported in earlier issues that you should be aware of a phone scam that gets you to return a
voicemail or other message to a long distance number, not knowing that the number is in the Caribbean and will cost you as much as $100.00, especially if you remain on hold as you are often asked to do,
("We'll be right with you. Please continue to hold").
Now, a similar scam has hit the Web.Here is how it works. You visit a new site and see something of
interest (pix, graphics, game) that you want to download. The site tells you that in order to download, you will need special free software to download the item you desire. What then happens is that the
downloaded software changes your modem settings, hangs up your connection and redials another number (the Caribbean!). Okay, hit download, it tells you and your 10-45 minute download occurs via
long distance and at 1-900-type phone rates. Visit cyberpatrol.com to get software that will prevent your kids from getting suckered into this. (JJFried, Inq, 12/31/00)
2000 mocking birds = 2 kilomockingbird
Privacy vanishing in the workplace
A recent article last month noted that about the only place to find real privacy at work  was in the bathroom and even that's not guaranteed. It is obvious to any computer user (hopefully)
that malicious or licentious use of email or Internet sites can quickly come back at the violator or the violator's employer. It seems that if a company is attempting to defend
itself and its employees from claims and suits of injury from sexual harassment or hostile workplace, the courts will side with the company over the individual's rights to privacy.
For those companies that do not have or cannot afford an IT wizard or guru, DSI is
available to assist. We can provide generic computer usage and email policies that can be customized
to fit any employer's needs. We will publicize the policy and even get employees to sign-off that they have read and agree to abide by the new rules.
Then if there is the suspicion of misuse or wrongdoing, we will audit any PC at your location and provide
a report on any questionable activity within a few hours. The report will include a compilation of downloaded/cached pictures as well as the location on the hard drive of over 7500 keywords that could
indicate immoral or illegal activity. We can even add specific words or terms the client might want included in the search. These keywords could indicate communication with competitors and/or the loss
of proprietary information. Email us for more details on this new service that has simplified the whole process of forensic computer examinations.
A unit of laryngitis = 1 hoarsepower
Bookmark bottleneck-
If you visit the web on a daily basis and do a lot of research then you undoubtedly have compiled a pile
of bookmarks that most likely has become unmanageable or at best mismanaged. Trying to sort the hundreds and even thousands of bookmarks into something akin to a database is time consuming and
often put off for lack of same.
We suggest that you visit this website and read an intelligent article on the subject and check out some
of the writer's suggestions to get yourself and your browser organized. Go to: http://www.denniskennedy.com/bookmarkmgr.htm
1 millionth of a mouthwash = 1 microscope
How you gonna keep 'em down on….
Thinking of changing your name? In some places it is easier than you imagine. When you file for a
marriage license in Council Bluffs, Iowa, or any other Iowa county, there is an entry line for "name adopted". The Code of IA. Marriage 595, permits either or both persons to assume any name (surname
and/or given) at the time the Application for Marriage License is completed. Clerks have been instructed not to advertise it!
1000 aches = 1 kilohurtz |10 cards= 1 Decacards
READ MORE ABOUT IT AT OUR WEBSITE
KEY GHOST©
(KEYSTROKE LOGGING DEVICE)
COMPUTER COP©
(PC FORENSICS)
She was sooo blonde that she thought a quarterback was a refund. When she looked in a Cheerios box she said "Oh, look. Doughnut seeds!" But in defense of…What do you call a brunette in a room full of blondes? Invisible!
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