New York Attorney General Letitia James recently published a guide to help companies in preparing their data security programs and responding to data security incidents. The security program recommendations are paired with highlights from recent investigations by the Attorney General that provide valuable insights into what the Attorney General views as data security pitfalls that should be remedied.
Continue Reading New York AG Releases Guide for Business Data Security
The New York and Pennsylvania AGs settlement with Herff Jones from late last year provides guidance to businesses about expected security measures as we enter into 2023. The case arose after Herff Jones, producer and seller of graduation goods, suffered a breach resulting in the theft and sale of customer payment card information.
Continue Reading Graduation Goods Settlement: A Good Reminder of AGs’ Data Security Priorities
New York’s Attorney General Letitia James recently secured a $1.9 million settlement from online retailer Zoetop Business Company, Ltd. to settle allegations that Zoetop had improperly handled a 2018 data breach and subsequent consumer notification. The scrutiny given to Zoetop provides insights into the NYAG’s expectations around breach investigations and response.
Continue Reading Lessons From New York AG Scrutiny of Breach Investigation and Response
In a recent settlement with the New York Department of Financial Services, EyeMed Vision Care LLC agreed to pay a $4.5 million penalty and undertake remedial measures to increase its cybersecurity. This includes undertaking an action plan based on a comprehensive risk assessment, subject to the review and approval of NYFSD.
Continue Reading NYDFS’s $4.5 Million EyeMed Cyber Settlement Reminder To Industry
Beginning January 1, 2023, New York City will restrict employers from using artificial intelligence to make employment decisions unless they follow certain guidelines. The local law applies to employment decisions made “within the city” regarding job applicants and promotion decisions.
Continue Reading New York City Set To Regulate Employment Decisions Made By AI
The New York Attorney General recently announced a data security-related settlement with Wegmans Food Markets. The issue arose in April 2021 regarding a cloud-based incident. At that time a security researcher notified Wegmans that the company had an Azure cloud storage container that was unsecured. Upon investigation, the company determined that the container had been misconfigured and that three million customer records had been publicly accessible since 2018. The records included email addresses and account passwords.
Continue Reading Wegmans Settles With NYAG for $400,000 Over Data Incident
The New York State Attorney General’s finding that EyeMed Vision Care LLC had failed to protect customer data in violation of the NY SHIELD Act provides insights for companies on how to protect information. New York’s SHIELD Act applies, as we have written previously, to any organization owning or licensing the information of a NYS resident, not just organizations located in New York. It requires companies to take reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect collected personal information.
Continue Reading Keeping Both Eyes on Cybersecurity
In light of Russia’s recent military actions in Ukraine, the New York Department of Financial Services issued guidance on its cybersecurity and virtual currency regulations. The Department is specifically concerned about heightened risk for Russia’s cyberattacks against Ukraine, which could in turn lead to retaliatory attacks against U.S. critical infrastructure due to U.S. sanctions against Russia.
Continue Reading NYDFS Issues Cybersecurity Guidance in Response to Events in Ukraine
The State Attorneys General in New York and New Jersey recently settled with four companies over alleged HIPAA noncompliance following phishing attacks. The New Jersey settlements were brought against three NJ-based cancer care providers after a phishing attack on several employees’ email accounts. That attack resulted in the unauthorized access of the PHI of 105,200 patients. Although the providers had implemented safeguards, the NJAG concluded that those measures were insufficient to protect against reasonably anticipated threats. In particular, the NJAG was concerned that an accurate and thorough risk assessment had not been conducted, nor was there sufficient employee training. As part of the settlement, the providers agreed to pay $425,000.
Continue Reading States Catch Health Care Entities Taking the Bait in Phishing Attacks
The New York AG recently issued information about steps companies can take to protect against credential stuffing attacks, and how to handle them if they occur. The guidance makes up a majority of a larger AG report on credential stuffing.
Continue Reading NYAG Issues Credential Stuffing Guidance
New York recently enacted a law governing employee monitoring. The law applies to New York employers who monitor employees through electronic devices. This includes monitoring of telephone, emails, and internet access or usage. The law takes effect May 7, 2022.
Continue Reading New York Imposes New Requirements for Employee Monitoring