Fraud detection system installed at UK local authority A system that detects fraudulent claims for housing and other benefits is being installed by Hackney Borough Coun- cil, UK according to Computer Weekly. The Forensic Fraud Detection Management System will automatically cross- match data from differ- ent systems at Hackney and other local authorities in the UK. A database stores information, such as, new applications for housing benefits and pay- ments of claims and com- pares it with existing records to find discre- pancies. The council decided on the system following figures released by the Audit Commission last month, which highlight the millions of pounds that local authorities lose every year owing to fraud. Outage disrupts operations at AT&T Internet service More than 200 000 AT&T Worldnet Internet access service customers were prevented from receiving electronic messages for more than a day due to a computer glitch reports The Neul York Times. computer databases, and customers were still able to connect to the Inter- net. Nevertheless, the problem was the biggest to hit the online service since it began in March 1996. The company was The trouble was caused keeping customers in- by a computer that han- formed about the pro- dles electronic mail. No blem through news mail was lost as a result of groups and CUStomer an- the problem as it was nouncement areas in the being stored in other online service. UK Registrar issues guidance on keeping customers’ data secure The Data Protection Ke- gistrar, Elizabeth France, has issued new guidance on how to ensure that customers’ personal details are kept secure as required by the Data Protection Act 1984. The free document Keeping Customer In- formation Safe ad- dresses the security measures financial service providers should adopt when responding gain access to customer records. “Our research shows that the public regard their financial details as particularly sensitive. They want them kept secure. This guidance therefore concentrates on one of the greatest threats to security. the bogus telephone caller.” said MS France. to telephone and other enquiries seeking access to confidential customer information. It gives guidance on a number of crucial areas such as the verification of callers, the use of passwords and passnum- hers, procedures used in telephone banking and automated information systems, and criminal of- fences that might be committed by those im- properly attempting to For further details and a cop-y of the docw ment, contact: The Marketing and Cow munications Uejuirt- ment, The Office of the Data Protection? Kegis- trar, Wycliffe Norrse, Water Lane. Wilmslou~ SK!, 5AF; tel: f ii (0) IL?5 54575: j2frr.y. t 44 (0)1615 524510: E-mail: dataw qvl@. demon.co.rrk; J’RJ.. http:// u’ZL’I(‘.o~~~tl.~o- 1,.1dk/~tpr/~~prholwc~/htllr Computer Audit Update l January 1997 . ‘i, 1997, Elsevier Science Ltd. R

UK Registrar issues guidance on keeping customers' data secure

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Fraud detection system installed at UK local authority

A system that detects fraudulent claims for housing and other benefits is being installed by Hackney Borough Coun- cil, UK according to Computer Weekly. The Forensic Fraud Detection Management System will automatically cross- match data from differ- ent systems at Hackney and other local authorities in the UK. A database stores information, such

as, new applications for housing benefits and pay- ments of claims and com- pares it with existing records to find discre- pancies.

The council decided on the system following figures released by the Audit Commission last month, which highlight the millions of pounds that local authorities lose every year owing to fraud.

Outage disrupts operations at AT&T Internet service More than 200 000 AT&T Worldnet Internet access service customers were prevented from receiving electronic messages for more than a day due to a computer glitch reports The Neul York Times.

computer databases, and customers were still able to connect to the Inter- net. Nevertheless, the problem was the biggest to hit the online service since it began in March 1996. The company was

The trouble was caused keeping customers in-

by a computer that han- formed about the pro-

dles electronic mail. No blem through news

mail was lost as a result of groups and CUStomer an-

the problem as it was nouncement areas in the

being stored in other online service.

UK Registrar issues

guidance on keeping

customers’ data secure The Data Protection Ke- gistrar, Elizabeth France, has issued new guidance on how to ensure that customers’ personal details are kept secure as required by the Data Protection Act 1984. The free document Keeping Customer In- formation Safe ad- dresses the security measures financial service providers should adopt when responding

gain access to customer records.

“Our research shows that the public regard their financial details as particularly sensitive. They want them kept secure. This guidance therefore concentrates on one of the greatest threats to security. the bogus telephone caller.” said MS France.

to telephone and other enquiries seeking access to confidential customer information.

It gives guidance on a number of crucial areas such as the verification of callers, the use of passwords and passnum- hers, procedures used in telephone banking and automated information systems, and criminal of- fences that might be committed by those im- properly attempting to

For further details and a cop-y of the docw ment, contact: The Marketing and Cow munications Uejuirt- ment, The Office of the Data Protection? Kegis- trar, Wycliffe Norrse, Water Lane. Wilmslou~ SK!, 5AF; tel: f ii (0) IL?5 54575: j2frr.y. t 44 (0)1615 524510: E-mail: dataw qvl@. demon.co.rrk; J’RJ.. http:// u’ZL’I(‘.o~~~tl.~o-

1,.1dk/~tpr/~~prholwc~/htllr

Computer Audit Update l January 1997 . ‘i, 1997, Elsevier Science Ltd.