Two tech support companies have agreed to pay $26 million to settle charges from the Federal Trade Commission for scamming people into buying unnecessary computer repair services. The companies used deceptive marketing schemes, targeting primarily older adults, and lured victims through pop-up ads for free virus scans. The scammers then convinced victims to purchase repair plans and download software that gave them remote access to the victims’ devices.
They’re not alone. From the Information, Microsoft’s security breaches have raised concerns among its biggest customers, particularly in the U.S. government. After a series of hacks exploiting Microsoft’s software, the U.S. State Department has started moving its data to servers of other cloud providers like Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud. The agency is also considering larger cloud deals with these rivals.
The UK government has been criticized for failing to address the national cyber threat posed by ransomware. The government rejected key recommendations from a parliamentary committee report, including stripping the Home Office of its responsibility to tackle ransomware. The committee expressed deep concerns about the government’s lack of preparation and planning, stating that the UK remains exposed and unprepared in the face of this threat.
Remember, those companies look the same as yours from a customer perspective. There’s no licensing; there’s no industry validation. The person who cuts my hair has more licensing requirements than those responsible for my data integrity.
That said, there are laws –violating them is a distinct bar for conduct. And governments are both critical and criticized in this space.