Target Security Breach...
I worked right across the street from the Target Headquarters and our offices were on top of a two-story Target store and our building was occupied by Target and Target vendors. Starting early last year there was a considerably greater presence of Target security. Apparently additional physical security was added this week.
The credit card breach is serious. We (me, wife, daughter) have a small business and two of our credit cards have been compromised twice at a point-of-sale system at one of our primary supply vendors. I have to offer the comment that cards with all that info on the magnetic strip is stupid and it's remarkably more stupid that a third security component (like a pin number) is not required. The Target situation involved both credit and debit cards. Users are required to enter their pin numbers for debit card transactions to occur. Pin numbers are not required for credit card transactions.
The compromise allowed capture of all the magnetic stripe information and the pin numbers entered at the card reader. This is a big deal. Once you get the demographics of the the transaction location and a good customer name it is not a huge step to begin associating account numbers from other cards...and you have the CCV number and the pin number.
My personal credit card has been lifted three times from online transactions. Each time the fraud people at US Bank were right on top of it. For me it's pretty easy. My purchases are predictable in terms of good and services and geographic location.
I have a Target Red Card. Given the vast array of poor quality Chinese-made goods, my aversion to Chinese-made goods and my avoidance of Target stores in general during this time of the year I'm probably one of the few Red Card holders who might not have to worry.
Duck Dynasty Breach...
Over the past few months I actually watched a number of Duck Dynasty episodes. As reality shows go it's pretty lame. Watching adults in too much camo hunting frogs or taking on near Jackass projects does not keep one on the edge of your seat. They're not bad guys. They seem honest, affectionate of their wives and children and they pray together before eating.
Pat Robertson shared his thoughts on homosexuality in a GQ interview and now he's suspended from the show and the rest of the family is unlikely to continue with this financial gold mine without him.
Bigotry of any kind is bad in my book. We also have to consider freedom of speech (extremely big in my book) and freedom of religion, and Pat Robertson's statements are framed in his faith according to the excerpts I've read. We really have no right to TV but even that is about freedom of speech although more about profits. We should all be able to say what we wish regardless of how offensive or profane (I've been to Skokie). The AE network can probably fire anyone they want for whatever reason unless a violation of a contract, and you can be assured that Pat Robertson's attorney's have him well covered in the contract both before and after this breach.
I have to go with freedom of speech on this one. He was succinct and honest about his feelings and intent. In Washington no one is succinct and no one is honest and certainly they'll all have something to say on this topic.
Work Focus Breach...
I did accomplish a little networking today, reaching out to former vendors and peers to wish a pleasant holiday season. About twenty percent of them responded in a manner that indicated this was as much a painful season as anything else.
Merry Christmas.
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