In the News
In Honda and UMG Hit by Privacy Leaks, Phil Muncaster discusses data leaks from Honda and Universal Music Group resulting from improperly protected servers. Muncaster explains that over 50,000 accounts on Honda’s app leaked data, including passwords, personal user information, and car specific information. He elaborates that, with the information leaked from Honda, users’ location and driving habits could be extrapolated.
Our Take
We’ve mentioned the leakage of location data a number of times in recent blog posts because we believe that these cases deserve special attention. People frequently associate data breaches with minor annoyances, such as needing to replace their credit card or reset their passwords. These types of breaches are certainly common, but also common are the sorts of breaches that result in identity theft or physical safety threats. The ability to track an individual’s habits and schedules is relatively new, as cell-site location data becomes more accurate and more household devices join the poorly-secured Internet of Things.
Recommendations
So how can you protect your personal information and your safety in this increasingly connected world?
- Consider the implications of Internet-connected devices–does the device need connectivity to perform its functions? If so, does the device indicate what precautions have been taken to secure the device and the data it has access to?
- Only give out essential information when creating new accounts
- Always create a unique and strong password for each account, and use multi-factor authentication
- Stay up to date on current security breaches to see if you have been impacted