General Discussion

SmittynMo

(3,544 posts)

53. Snowden is right

Thu Feb 5, 2015, 08:54 PM

Feb 2015

I have been in IT for many years. ANYTIME you use your computer, you take the risk of someone spying on you and your data. Unfortunately, I saw this happening 2 decades ago. I saw everything going digital, which in itself, is risky. Encryption of data is fairly safe, but not 100%. There is always someone out there trying to find ways to get to your data. Nothing is really 100% safe. They can hack your camera and mic, see your data on your hard drive, and with "cloud" technology, your data can be hacked at anytime without your knowledge. What makes this scarier, a lot of companies are using cloud technology. Word of advice for laptop users. Be sure to cover your cam with tape.

If you ask me, at this stage in the game, the only defense we have is to beef up encryption and firewall security. You can also reduce your online ordering.

To date, I have not been hacked, or encountered a breach of data. But beware, it can happen at anytime without your knowledge, or permission. Limit ordering online, setup alarms on all your accounts, and check your accounts daily. Getting a service like life lock can be beneficial.

Remember, with the right hacked data, ANYONE can be YOU online!!

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

212 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

"Scary stuff" UPDATE: the hack was TurboTax (NEWER UPDATE) [View all] WilliamPitt Feb 2015 OP

Oh shit! nt nc4bo Feb 2015 #1

I second that!!! etherealtruth Feb 2015 #120

My mother received a fake IRS call yesterday... JaneyVee Feb 2015 #148

I'd be willing to bet that there's info out there from all of us NightWatcher Feb 2015 #2

that might not be a bad thing notadmblnd Feb 2015 #7

A sort of modern jubilee! PatrickforO Feb 2015 #117

Yeah, it's like they are building a dossier on everyone as they gather bits and pieces of RKP5637 Feb 2015 #39

All of our utilities have been sporadically hit as well NightWatcher Feb 2015 #45

That info is tooo many places quakerboy Feb 2015 #90

Faithful TurboTax user.. android fan Feb 2015 #3

I used the same identity theft protection plan for a while. jeff47 Feb 2015 #13

Noted. TurboTax in on the List. NYC_SKP Feb 2015 #4

Any chance they will file my taxes AND pay them? Hassin Bin Sober Feb 2015 #5

I want to sign up too! RKP5637 Feb 2015 #40

Wow. I guess all that outsourcing really helped keep America secure! Rex Feb 2015 #6

We have a National Security Agency for that. Downwinder Feb 2015 #31

Lol! BeanMusical Feb 2015 #43

I use Turbo Tax every year CanonRay Feb 2015 #8

Same here. El Supremo Feb 2015 #23

I'm glad I have never used them..... blackspade Feb 2015 #9

This is why I am a Luddite. Warpy Feb 2015 #10

Another Luddite here BumRushDaShow Feb 2015 #49

"That's the way to do it. That's old school." FailureToCommunicate Feb 2015 #144

Or really "old school" BumRushDaShow Feb 2015 #187

LOVED them in Muppets Treasure Island!! FailureToCommunicate Feb 2015 #206

I loved them in anything. BumRushDaShow Feb 2015 #207

Meanwhile the ACA websites are all properly secured, it is private corporations that refuse to pay for Fred Sanders Feb 2015 #11

What is proper security in your mind? Glassunion Feb 2015 #36

More than now. Fred Sanders Feb 2015 #37

I appriciate your non-answer. Glassunion Feb 2015 #38

yeah because public universities have not been hacked belcffub Feb 2015 #191

Absolutely. randome Feb 2015 #194

There are so many vectors of attack belcffub Feb 2015 #197

The company I work for is going through a reorganization but this time it's a GOOD reorg. randome Feb 2015 #198

article doesn't say whether it the free version or the purchased program. notadmblnd Feb 2015 #12

I don't think it would matter Kelvin Mace Feb 2015 #16

the tax program I purchase does not keep copies of my returns on their servers. notadmblnd Feb 2015 #20

This may be of interest IDemo Feb 2015 #30

Thanks! notadmblnd Feb 2015 #41

My bet is Egnever Feb 2015 #71

Okay, I thought you were being hyperbolic earlier. lumberjack_jeff Feb 2015 #14

Thanks for your sig line, I've been looking for that. nt F4lconF16 Feb 2015 #19

Dems have tried for years Kelvin Mace Feb 2015 #15

That would be so awesome. Xyzse Feb 2015 #17

Yes, too many corporations take a piece of the action in tax filings mountain grammy Feb 2015 #22

NO, it wouldn't be any more secure Demeter Feb 2015 #47

Yes, It would be more secure. Not perfectly secure, *more* secure. quakerboy Feb 2015 #94

I agree, and well said dreamnightwind Feb 2015 #113

It would be as secure s the computer room physical access bobwelch Feb 2015 #128

I've heard the Social Security Administration has been tracking people's income for YEARS! jberryhill Feb 2015 #135

We use TT but we file by mail... brooklynite Feb 2015 #18

The hacks are on the state level rather than federal? pugetres Feb 2015 #21

just changed my password just in case yodermon Feb 2015 #24

And you know this...how? Android3.14 Feb 2015 #44

true dat. However the cases I read indicated that the user logged on, and saw that their taxes had yodermon Feb 2015 #161

I am glad we don't do our own taxes. murielm99 Feb 2015 #25

This one is going to be a Biggee. Wellstone ruled Feb 2015 #26

The story is starting to bubble up. DailyKos has it. WilliamPitt Feb 2015 #27

Well, crap. raven mad Feb 2015 #28

They've gotten all of us since at least 2005 - 1,012,730,026 RECORDS BREACHED: Mnemosyne Feb 2015 #29

That covers us - TBF Feb 2015 #42

A search for TurboTax billh58 Feb 2015 #65

phew! shanti Feb 2015 #32

Was part of the sony hack abelenkpe Feb 2015 #33

dad used to use it PatrynXX Feb 2015 #34

And people do not understand TNNurse Feb 2015 #35

UPDATE WilliamPitt Feb 2015 #46

edited comment. I meant the orig reply for an ACA post...but I am a Turbo Tax user... C Moon Feb 2015 #48

This might help. ananda Feb 2015 #50

TurboTax has not been hacked TurboTaxChristine Feb 2015 #51

So WilliamPitt Feb 2015 #52

I find only 2 stories on the news, neither say TT was hacked. uppityperson Feb 2015 #55

Looks like the original article was edited berni_mccoy Feb 2015 #58

28 fraudulent, 8,000 flagged as potentially. PeaceNikki Feb 2015 #63

My question is...... DeSwiss Feb 2015 #86

Because they have Google? PeaceNikki Feb 2015 #89

Then we'd be better off maybe...... DeSwiss Feb 2015 #92

Marketing people protect the brand. There are security breach notification laws PeaceNikki Feb 2015 #93

I'm a likeable guy WilliamPitt Feb 2015 #91

... who doesn't grasp the simple concept of Secondary Sources. OilemFirchen Feb 2015 #95

The Salt Lake Trib and ABC News out of Minneapolis WilliamPitt Feb 2015 #97

Not for your initial "scoop", apparently. OilemFirchen Feb 2015 #99

Fans can be so fickle! Rex Feb 2015 #138

What can I say? OilemFirchen Feb 2015 #175

So, please let us know when you're coming back to NC! :) nt Duval Feb 2015 #204

It got tweeted. And she replied onecaliberal Feb 2015 #108

Damage control is a real thing. AtheistCrusader Feb 2015 #112

She posted the same comment at dKos AllyCat Feb 2015 #142

Thank you for this information. billh58 Feb 2015 #54

Thank you for clarifying this misinformation. PeaceNikki Feb 2015 #62

*ahem* WilliamPitt Feb 2015 #79

What is even funnier are the people believing a 1 post nobody Rex Feb 2015 #139

Still waiting on my Rove indictment here. Orsino Feb 2015 #153

Well you big time fans are just going to have to wait. Rex Feb 2015 #155

I'm not sure which vague, initial report to "believe." Orsino Feb 2015 #157

Well forbes believes it now. Rex Feb 2015 #160

I'm beginning to believe it, too. Orsino Feb 2015 #162

When an entire state halts filling, I tend to think something is up too. Rex Feb 2015 #164

What do you suppose that means? jberryhill Feb 2015 #174

Or, if the data is stored in the cloud, a breach of that company's servers. randome Feb 2015 #181

Will Pitt apparently has information we do not jberryhill Feb 2015 #182

Well, that's just assumed, of course. randome Feb 2015 #188

"...our customer's data is safe." woo me with science Feb 2015 #121

LOL! And some people think grammar is unimportant. Pacifist Patriot Feb 2015 #123

I saw that too. cwydro Feb 2015 #192

Those two guys in accounting. Rex Feb 2015 #140

What a load of horseshit, thank you for signing up just so you could lie to us. Rex Feb 2015 #141

A real journalist would be able to find out in 23 seconds she is who she claims to be snooper2 Feb 2015 #180

I've been on hold for nearly an hour on the "help" line - 1.800.944.8596. myrna minx Feb 2015 #145

So what? jberryhill Feb 2015 #176

LOL! Welcome TTC! City Lights Feb 2015 #196

And it turns out she was correct. Still feeling smug? randome Feb 2015 #205

Snowden is right SmittynMo Feb 2015 #53

Nice scoop Will. berni_mccoy Feb 2015 #56

Ok... Why is *anybody* storing their tax returns on a Turbotax server? TheProgressive Feb 2015 #57

I don't think you have a choice berni_mccoy Feb 2015 #59

Well, like I wrote, I just use the Turbotax program. TheProgressive Feb 2015 #61

Not all of us have an air gapped system. Agschmid Feb 2015 #103

I guess we are even.... TheProgressive Feb 2015 #106

Haha yes sounds like we are! Agschmid Feb 2015 #107

So the easy fix is DON"T LET TT file your return. Print it out and file it yourself. nt Fla Dem Feb 2015 #147

More specifically: don't do it online. mwooldri Feb 2015 #189

Recommendation to you Will, since the article has now been edited and a person from TT has posted uppityperson Feb 2015 #60

TT customers have been noticing and filing complaints berni_mccoy Feb 2015 #64

Your link has no mention of TurboTax. Dr Hobbitstein Feb 2015 #66

It did but was updated. But it didn't say TT was hacked. PeaceNikki Feb 2015 #67

It was there three hours ago. WilliamPitt Feb 2015 #68

I'm going out on a limb and say that things have developed Dr Hobbitstein Feb 2015 #70

This is why I print and mail my Turbotaxed return MannyGoldstein Feb 2015 #69

The mail is less secure than the internet. Dr Hobbitstein Feb 2015 #73

Really Doc, the USPS is less secure than the internet? TheProgressive Feb 2015 #80

Actually, yes. Dr Hobbitstein Feb 2015 #85

Funny that you don't hear of massive security breaches from the USPS... TheProgressive Feb 2015 #88

You hear about mass indentity theft. Dr Hobbitstein Feb 2015 #127

NEW UPDATE WilliamPitt Feb 2015 #72

Minnesota Stops Accepting TurboTax Filings Due to Possible Fraud suffragette Feb 2015 #74

Weird... the article states there were 2 known cases in MN. PeaceNikki Feb 2015 #75

MSM loves this kind of news. cwydro Feb 2015 #81

There are also security breach notification laws in 47 states that would require we would. PeaceNikki Feb 2015 #82

There ya go. nt cwydro Feb 2015 #83

Yeah, it says two noticed by people when they went to file suffragette Feb 2015 #84

It sounds like identity thieves are using TT to file fraudulent returns, PeaceNikki Feb 2015 #87

Well, Minnesota isn't accepting only TT and it looks like TT will have hotline up tomorrow suffragette Feb 2015 #109

That does not mean there was a security breach at TT. PeaceNikki Feb 2015 #118

As many as 18 states WilliamPitt Feb 2015 #76

Yikes! I hope they do more than put out another "do this to protect yourself" PSA suffragette Feb 2015 #78

19 or more Iliyah Feb 2015 #111

Well ain't that some shit. WilliamPitt Feb 2015 #77

Yet none of the articles except for the original updated/corrected ones say "TT hacked". uppityperson Feb 2015 #96

You are going to be around here again, right ? Trajan Feb 2015 #100

Yes, I am very interested, just think that posting someplace was hacked without evidence uppityperson Feb 2015 #110

Yeah, and let's all fondly remember the "scoop" the OP pitched us in '06 PeaceNikki Feb 2015 #122

Per WCCO in Minneapolis, you can call 1.800-944.8596 myrna minx Feb 2015 #125

I hope all is ok suffragette Feb 2015 #146

Thanks. You're so thoughful. Sigh - I've been on hold for 90 minutes. I just hung up. myrna minx Feb 2015 #149

Now it looks like the 800 number is for ALL states affected suffragette Feb 2015 #154

I actually was expecting the IRS marym625 Feb 2015 #98

Thanks Will .... Trajan Feb 2015 #101

I suppose I should be glad I've already filed and gotten my refund this year Silent3 Feb 2015 #102

Same. Agschmid Feb 2015 #104

I'm not always so fast, but I knew this year I'd get a nice big refund... Silent3 Feb 2015 #105

That reminds me HeiressofBickworth Feb 2015 #114

I think the quickbooks hack is actually worse marym625 Feb 2015 #115

Quickbooks wasn't hacked... Dr Hobbitstein Feb 2015 #131

I hope you are right marym625 Feb 2015 #137

Thanks for the objective and correct billh58 Feb 2015 #200

The animated movie "Turbo" was very taxing to watch also. Kablooie Feb 2015 #116

Well, ain't that wonderful. I use TT to file our federal returns electronically mnhtnbb Feb 2015 #119

I won't be filing until October, so hopefully this will be cleaned up by then. brooklynite Feb 2015 #124

A search pulls up articles in AZ, MN, & UT on Turbotax hacking cases. Skidmore Feb 2015 #126

According to actual vetted news, Dr Hobbitstein Feb 2015 #129

They would be required by law to disclose if they were. PeaceNikki Feb 2015 #130

But TurboTax is flexing their big mean muscles... Dr Hobbitstein Feb 2015 #133

Which is what I am finding. Skidmore Feb 2015 #132

When States Stop Accepting Returns from a Single Vendor... berni_mccoy Feb 2015 #136

Is Forbes vetted enough? WilliamPitt Feb 2015 #156

Thanks for the link. Skidmore Feb 2015 #169

Yeah, but it doesn't say what you're saying. Dr Hobbitstein Feb 2015 #171

If you have not been billh58 Feb 2015 #202

We haven't but I'm still waiting a few days before Skidmore Feb 2015 #203

I file my own IRS forms & never use turbotax or online file. 'Someone' filed my tax return a couple Sunlei Feb 2015 #134

Well, it's an interesting story, but one that is still developing. MineralMan Feb 2015 #143

Good advice. "...filed through TurboTax." doesn't necessarily mean TurboTax is at fault. randome Feb 2015 #166

Latest word from Intuit is that their data was not compromised. MineralMan Feb 2015 #178

I'm doomed. Fuddnik Feb 2015 #150

TurboTax Temporarily Halts E-Filing In All States Amid Fraud Concerns suffragette Feb 2015 #151

Wellnow... WilliamPitt Feb 2015 #152

Yeah, well now, are you going to change the title of your OP telling lies? snooper2 Feb 2015 #177

Oh my. nc4bo Feb 2015 #158

It does sound like some database with tax info has been breached. suffragette Feb 2015 #163

Well, well, well. Orsino Feb 2015 #159

All you need is someone's personal info, and you can file a fake return. Dr Hobbitstein Feb 2015 #172

Off topic, but to answer your last question... mak3cats Feb 2015 #173

Yes, familiar from LOTR :) But the company name sounds familiar too. suffragette Feb 2015 #179

Oh, you mean REAL stuff?? mak3cats Feb 2015 #183

Yodermon had the answer. There were many posts about that on DU back then. suffragette Feb 2015 #193

Palantir had to apologize after Anonymous revealed they were involved yodermon Feb 2015 #186

That's it. They were part of the HBGary, Chamber of Commerce attack on progressive journalists suffragette Feb 2015 #190

I went to my CPA PasadenaTrudy Feb 2015 #165

To clarify, this is related to STATE e-filing, not Federal returns mnhtnbb Feb 2015 #167

It's the information that matters WilliamPitt Feb 2015 #168

BUT, if the access by the hackers came through previously e-filed STATE returns, mnhtnbb Feb 2015 #170

If that were true, then other services than TT would be involved. berni_mccoy Feb 2015 #184

TurboTax halts e-filing berni_mccoy Feb 2015 #185

Its on ABC news now - Midday Friday Mira Feb 2015 #195

Vermont suspended sending refunds on Feb 4 suffragette Feb 2015 #199

I don't quite understand this. Turbo Tax includes all form of taxes both state and federal. Why are jwirr Feb 2015 #201

Still standing by this story, Will? Dr Hobbitstein Feb 2015 #208

The OP will be proven right deaniac21 Feb 2015 #209

How I can get rid if my info hack? mollaeilaw May 2018 #210

You will not be getting a response from the author of this thread. TexasTowelie May 2018 #211

A good lawyer might help. backtoblue May 2018 #212