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Saturday, January 21, 2023
The Bronx Chamber of Commerce - Bronx Business News You Can Use
Governor Hochul Urges New Yorkers to Take Steps to Safeguard Their Private Data
New Yorkers Encouraged to Educate and Protect Themselves Against Having their Personal Information Compromised Online During Data Privacy Week
State's First Chief Privacy Officer Partners with State Agencies to Raise Awareness; Guard Against Personal Data Breaches
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced steps New Yorkers can take to safeguard themselves from having their personal data compromised online. In recognition of Data Privacy Week, the State Office of Information Technology Services has teamed with other state agencies to promote techniques for protecting private data including raising awareness of phishing schemes, using strong passwords, and exhibiting greater caution with information shared on social media.
"All too often, New Yorkers fall victim to online criminals because they don't take basic steps needed to protect their personal data," Governor Hochul said. "During Data Privacy Week, we are raising greater awareness of these schemes and urging all New Yorkers to protect themselves and their personal information to avoid becoming a target of these unscrupulous actors."
Starting on January 22, Data Privacy Week is aimed at spreading awareness about online privacy among individuals and organizations. The goal is to educate the public on how to safely manage their personal information online and to help businesses and other organizations understand the importance of respecting their users' data.
This year, New York State was named a Data Privacy Champion by the National Cybersecurity Alliance, a non-profit organization that promotes cyber security, privacy, education, and awareness. This designation recognizes the state's commitment to supporting the principle that all organizations share the responsibility of being conscientious stewards of personal information.
Governor Hochul also announced an expansion of state investments in cybersecurity initiatives in her State of the State address, which will further secure and protect New York's critical infrastructure.
ITS Chief Privacy Officer Michele Jones said, "I'm very excited about the opportunity to lead and coordinate New York's efforts around data privacy as the State deals with new and emerging privacy standards. During Data Privacy Week and every day, I will continue to encourage all New Yorkers to stay vigilant with their personal online security and follow our best practices and tips."
Online activity generates vast trails of data. Websites, apps, and services collect information on behaviors, interests, and purchases, as well as other sensitive data such as Social Security and driver's license numbers or health information.
Failing to take adequate safeguards can leave this information exposed and raise the likelihood that it will fall into the wrong hands. New Yorkers can keep their sensitive personal information private and secure by:
- Being wary of unsolicited emails and telephone calls asking for personal information. Never share personal information, such as your Social Security number, in response to an unsolicited email or telephone call. If the email or call claims to be from a company with which you do business, call it first to confirm the contact is legitimate.
- Keeping devices updated. Enable automatic updates for your devices and applications, including mobile devices. Use security features built into the device, such as a passcode, and programs that encrypt data and remotely eliminate contents if the device is lost or stolen.
- Being careful with Wi-Fi hotspots. Public wireless hotspots may not be secure and can potentially allow others to monitor online activity, especially if it is unencrypted - ensure your connection to your website is secure, and for extra protection use a virtual private network.
- Limiting personal data collected by mobile apps. Limit the data you allow to be collected on to the minimum required, such as by limiting location services to "only when using the app" and not allowing personal information such as email to be shared with third parties. Consider the app's privacy policies before downloading.
- Being cautious about the information shared on social media. Avoid posting birthdates, telephone numbers, home addresses, or images that identify employment or hobbies. This information may often reveal answers to security questions used to reset passwords and can be utilized by scammers looking to access accounts and personal information.
- Using strong passwords. Create different complex passwords for every account. Consider passphrases made of up multiple short words which are easy to remember but difficult for a computer to guess, like "Correct-Horse-Battery-Staple!". Consider using a password manager which can help generate and securely store passwords.
- Using hard to guess security question answers. Select security questions with answers that cannot be guessed or found by searching social media or the internet.
- Using multifactor authentication to access accounts. A password and another factor, such as a code from an app on your phone, make it much harder for your account to be hacked.
- Being aware of phishing schemes. Don't click on links, download files, or open attachments in emails from unknown senders. Open attachments only when they are expected, and the contents are known.
About Data Privacy Week
Data Privacy Week began as Data Privacy Day in the U.S. and Canada in January 2008 as an extension of the Data Protection Day celebration in Europe. Data Protection Day commemorates the Jan. 28, 1981, signing of Convention 108, the first legally binding international treaty dealing with privacy and data protection.
Partnerships for Parks - Flood Plan Expected to Affect Coastal Communities Citywide
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BRONX MAN SENTENCED FOR ROBBING AND PUNCHING AUTISTIC MAN
Defendant Was Found Guilty of Second-Degree Robbery Incident Happened Inside Victim’s Apartment Building
Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a Bronx man has been sentenced to six years in prison for robbing and brutally assaulting an autistic man inside his apartment building lobby.
District Attorney Clark said, “The defendant, in the process of robbing the victim, punched him more than 20 times in the face. This was a vicious attack and a traumatic experience for the victim, who is autistic and unable to communicate. His vision continues to be affected and he still suffers the lasting psychological effects of this assault.”
District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Steven Solano, 25, of East 155th Street, was sentenced today by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Margaret Clancy to six years in prison and five years’ post-release supervision. The People had requested eight years in prison. The defendant was found guilty of second-degree Robbery on December 14, 2023, after a jury trial.
According to the investigation, on May 1, 2019, at approximately 4:00 p.m., the defendant and others chased the 20-year-old victim, who is autistic and non-verbal, into the lobby of the victim’s apartment building. Solano punched the victim over 20 times and continued to hit him while he was on the ground. The defendant and the others stole the victim’s backpack, which contained his lunch and keys, and fled the scene. The victim suffered facial bruising, swelling, cuts and bleeding from his eyes. He was taken to a local Bronx hospital for his injuries. The attack was captured on surveillance video and investigators found the victim’s blood on Solano’s shoes.
District Attorney Clark also thanked Dr. Stacy Nunberg of BronxCare Hospital, NYPD Detective Johnny Jimenez of the 52nd Precinct, NYPD Detective Vincent Figueroa of the 44th Precinct and Criminalist Justina Kawa of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for their assistance in the investigation.
Former West Point Staff Sergeant Sentenced To 42 Months In Prison For Possession Of Child Pornography
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that PATRICK EDWIN GORYCHKA was sentenced to 42 months in prison by United States District Judge Kenneth M. Karas for his possession of child pornography. The sentencing followed GORYCHKA’s guilty plea on May 23, 2022.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “The availability of child pornography spread through chatrooms and discreet websites is every modern parent’s worst nightmare. This Office will continue to prioritize protecting our most vulnerable citizens, children, from this kind of exploitation.”
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in related court proceedings:
In October 2019, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) received information from an FBI Online Undercover Employee (“UC-1”) concerning UC-1’s communications with an individual using the Kik username “epg84,” who was later identified as GORYCHKA, in a Kik chat room known to be frequented by individuals with a sexual interest in children. UC-1 identified himself as a 48-year-old uncle who had engaged in sex acts with his niece. GORYCHKA, who identified himself as “Eric G.,” asked UC-1 for photos of UC-1’s niece. UC-1 told GORYCHKA that UC-1 had met a “pedo mom” (“UC-2”) in New York. UC-1 told GORYCHKA that “she keeps kids of illegals while they work for a couple weeks” and “makes some $ on the side.” GORYCHKA stated, “Omg that’s hot” and asked UC-1 to connect him to UC-2.
Thereafter, UC-2, going by the name “Jane,” and GORYCHKA engaged in numerous communications from in or about October 31, 2019, through in or about November 16, 2019. During these communications, GORYCHKA said he was interested in “preteens” and told UC-2, “I heard that you could potentially facilitate certain things.” GORYCHKA said that he was interested in a “similar setup” as UC-1 and told UC-2, “I have money.”
On November 2, 2019, GORYCHKA transmitted two links to Mega, a New Zealand-based cloud storage platform that permits users to store and share electronically stored information, including images and videos.[1] Both links contained numerous images and videos of children engaging in sexually explicit activity.
In imposing the sentence, Judge Karas underscored, “The possession of child pornography feeds a business that exploits the most vulnerable in our society.”
In addition to the prison term, Judge Karas sentenced GORYCHKA, 40, of Manitowoc, Wisconsin, to five years of supervised release.
Mr. Williams praised the efforts of the FBI, West Point’s Criminal Investigation Division, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Town of New Windsor Police Department in connection with this investigation.
[1] With respect to Mega, a user can send a link to a Mega cloud account to another person. Once the link to the Mega cloud account is transmitted, the person who clicks on the link to the cloud account can access, view, and download the files contained in that Mega cloud account.