Hackers

Sponsored

  • Morning Docket: 03.30.16
    Morning Docket

    Morning Docket: 03.30.16

    * An odd order? Perhaps in an attempt to avoid yet another 4-4 split in a controversial case, SCOTUS justices have ordered parties on both sides of the contraceptive coverage battle in Zubik to file briefs describing how such coverage could be provided without religious groups having to put forth much effort to formally object. [Associated Press]

    * “It’s mind bogglingly obvious, but often gets lost in the mix. Apart from checking there aren’t any conflicts, clients are rarely put at the heart of these mergers.” Go figure, but according to a new report by professional services consultancy Gulland Padfield, law firm mergers usually don’t benefit clients in any way, shape, or form. [Am Law Daily]

    * It seems that Russian cybercriminal “Oleras” has hired hackers to break into the computer systems of 48 Biglaw firms so he can collect confidential client data and then trade on the stolen insider information. Thus far, he’s been unsuccessful. Has your law firm been targeted? If you’d like to know, check the list here. [Crain’s Chicago Business]

    * The NFL is so pissed that the New York Times recently published a story linking the league to the tobacco industry that it not only wrote a two-part rebuttal that was more than 3000 words long, but it also sicced Paul Weiss attorneys on the paper of record in search of a retraction, claiming that the story was defamatory in nature. [Yahoo! Sports]

    * “I will not go down. I want Bill Cosby in court.” A Los Angeles judge has ruled that model Janice Dickinson’s defamation case against Bill Cosby can move forward so that a jury can decide whether her allegations of rape are truthful, and further, whether a “liar” comment made by the comedian’s ex-lawyer, Marty Singer, was defamatory. [Telegram]

  • Morning Docket

    Morning Docket: 01.12.15

    * George Zimmerman was arrested for aggravated assault and domestic violence with a weapon. His lawyer said his client “has not been lucky with the ladies.” He hasn’t been lucky with being a decent human being, either. [USA Today]

    * Lawrence McCreery, the Hawaii lawyer who licked a client’s ear and inspired the judge on his case to call him a “dirty old man,” has had his harassment conviction upheld on appeal. Get excited, he’s still got a law license, ladies. [Associated Press]

    * We may soon see same-sex marriage bans in three states struck down, as the Fifth Circuit “appeared poised” to do so after oral arguments on Friday. Roberta Kaplan, our 2013 Lawyer of the Year, delivered a standout performance in arguing against Mississippi’s ban. [BuzzFeed]

    * What do Sidley Austin, Baker & McKenzie, Reed Smith, Hogan Lovells, and Skadden Arps have in common? Their names were used in phishing emails to scam people out of their money. Some might say that’s business as usual. [Crain’s Chicago Business]

    * An arrest was made in the forcible rape of a woman — presumably a law student — that took place in the stacks of the Southern University Law Center’s library last semester. The accused rapist is currently behind held without bond. [WBRZ]

  • Technology

    Obama Administration the Target of Hackers; Former Administration Official Recipient of Subpoena Related to Cybersecurity

    The Obama Administration's handling of cyber and data security was recently brought into question due to two distinct security incidents. On the same day that a former Administration official received a subpoena related to the security of a government-run website, it was confirmed that hackers had targeted an unclassified computer network used by senior White House staff. On Tuesday, October 28, House Science, Space and Technology Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX) and Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Paul Broun (R-GA) issued a subpoena to former U.S. Chief Technology Officer Todd Park. The subpoena compels Mr. Park to appear before the Subcommittee on Oversight to answer questions regarding his role in developing and evaluating the operations and security of HealthCare.gov, the website set up for the federal health insurance exchange created by the Affordable Care Act. Recently, it was reported that HealthCare.gov had been hacked back in July 2014. Federal officials confirmed that hackers broke into part of the website and were able to upload malicious software. However, no evidence was found that consumers' personal data were taken.