CyberSecurity & Data Privacy

In our earlier article, we discussed tips on practicing basic cyber hygiene.  One of the most common attack methods mentioned in that article was phishing.  This week we will discuss the importance of being aware of text messages, emails, or chat boxes that come from someone you do not know or were not expecting.  Phishing has been a staple in the cybersecurity threat landscape for ...
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In our first article to kick off Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we will discuss some steps businesses can take to improve their cyber hygiene.  Over the past few years, some of the largest and well-known companies have been affected by data breaches resulting in millions of dollars in losses.  Smaller businesses are not immune from data breaches, and even a small data breach impacting only a ...
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In recognition of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Vandeventer Black is pleased to announce that it will again be providing information and resources throughout the month of October to increase awareness of some of the complex cybersecurity issues and challenges that face businesses in Virginia and beyond.  Recently, we published a series of articles addressing ransomware attacks, such as those involving Colonial Pipeline and JBS S.A., ...
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In our recent article on the legal framework governing virtual currencies, we briefly discussed the distinction between money transmitters and virtual currency exchanges.  In short, transmitters are entities that convert fiat currency into virtual currency, whereas exchanges are entities that swap one virtual currency for another, such as Ethereum (ETH) for Dogecoin (DOGE).  The distinction is relevant since transmitters are sometimes regulated differently than exchanges.  ...
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It has been barely a month since we reported on the recent ransomware attack on the Colonial Pipeline Company, yet news continues to break with additional revelations about the recent attack.  What we have learned during the past several weeks should give businesses encouragement, while reinforcing some important lessons. Shortly after the attack, it was revealed that Colonial Pipeline paid roughly $4.3 million in bitcoin ...
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A few weeks ago, details of the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack filled the news cycle, and by now, most people have heard about the latest ransomware attack to hit the news.  Brazil’s JBS S.A., the world’s largest meat processing company, was targeted this week by a ransomware attack that, according to reports, appeared to have originated from a criminal group likely operating in Russia, shutting ...
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Our previous article in this series looked at the legal framework surrounding blockchain technology.  This article will look at practical uses for the technology. Blockchain technology has implications for many business owners, even those not interested in the speculative trading element in cryptocurrency which is akin to trading in the stock market.  In addition to acting as a cash replacement, cryptocurrencies have many other applications, ...
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Our previous article considered the technology behind cryptocurrency. This article will focus on the legal framework governing the industry.  The cryptocurrency market is subject to a patchwork of inconsistent legislation and regulations that continue to evolve, leading to uncertainty about its future.  While the blockchain industry has grown for years, regulators have not kept pace with this growth, making the desire for regulatory clarification greater ...
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Bitcoin was first introduced in a 2009 white paper, Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System.[1]  Since then, cryptocurrencies[2], also known as virtual or digital currencies, have exploded, with thousands of different types in circulation, achieving a $2T market cap in early 2021[3], and with the number of blockchain wallet users rising to more than 70 million as of May 2021.[4] However, the blockchain concept, which ...
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The Department of Labor (DOL) has just issued first-time retirement plan guidance to address cybersecurity risks for employers, plan fiduciaries, recordkeepers and plan participants.  The guidance is in the form of recommended best practices to protect retirement benefits by providing strong cybersecurity practices for employers and plan service providers and online security tips for participants. The concern is that with millions of dollars accumulating in ...
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Article published in Virginia Lawyer | April 2021 | VOL. 69 | The Construction Law and Public Contracts Issue | Page 45 ...
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On May 26, 2020, in In re Capital One Consumer Data Security Breach Litigation, MDL 1:19md2915 (E.D. Va.) the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia (Alexandria Division) (Anderson, J.) held that a forensic investigation report conducted by a third-party investigator under the direction of outside counsel on behalf of Capital One in response to a data breach was not entitled to protection ...
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Your employee is sitting at his or her home office working on a project and notices an email in his or her inbox with the subject line: “Urgent Request” or “Please get this done ASAP.” Not wanting to miss an urgent communication from work in this age of telework, your employee immediately switches tasks to review the email.  It appears that the email has come ...
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As the spread of COVID-19 virus creates anxiety and uncertainty across the globe, it also creates new opportunities for cyber fraud. On Saturday, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a complaint for a Temporary Restraining Order in the Western District of Texas against defendant, “John Doe” who, according to the complaint, “acting alone or in concert with others” operated a website known as ...
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Today, it seems hardly a month passes without a report of another business falling victim to a data breach. Over the past few years, some of the largest and well-known companies such as Equifax, Target, Home Depot, TJ Maxx, Anthem, Sony Pictures, and Uber, have been affected by data breaches. These companies have experienced significant losses, totaling millions of dollars. While larger companies may possess ...
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With the federal government’s first False Claims Act case based on cybersecurity regulations from the Department of Defense (DoD) and NASA making its way through the courts, (United States ex rel. Markus v. Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Inc.) and the continuing issues surrounding the implementation of the 2016 amendments to the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS)  designed to safeguard controlled unclassified information, defense contractors  are ...
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From 3D printing and drone use, to increased use of tablets, laptops, smartphones, and wearables, the construction industry is becoming increasingly dependent on the use of technology. Use of augmented reality programs, advanced tracking technologies, and multi-user cloud-based platforms are on the rise; and while these technologies can increase efficiency, reduce costs, and increase worksite safety, they also come with increased risk. This article discusses ...
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Ransomware has been one of the top cyber threats in the past several years. Thanks to the WannaCry attack of 2017 and others, most people have heard of this type of cyber threat, but many do not know how it works, how to protect against it, or what to do if they are infected.  Here are some suggestions to include in your overall cyber risk ...
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During the last several years, many industries have fallen victim to cyber-attacks, and the maritime industry is not immune.  Consider the following recent news reports:  In 2017, the largest container shipping company in the world, A.P. MØller-Maersk, fell victim to NotPetya, a type of destructive malware, that required the installation of 4,000 new servers, 45,000 new PCs and 2,500 applications, costing the organization between $250 ...
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One day, you receive a letter from a company or law firm accusing your business of patent infringement.  The letter states that in order to avoid a costly lawsuit, you must pay the company a licensing fee.  You ask yourself whether this is some type of scam and you consider simply throwing the letter away because you have never heard of this company and you ...
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