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CBS and Paramount’s parent company reports hack affecting over 80,000 people


National Amusements, CBS and Paramount’s parent company, reported a year-old hack this month affecting 82,128 people. TechCrunch first covered the breach, revealed in a company legal filing with Maine’s Attorney General under a 2005 state digital privacy law. National Amusements hasn’t commented publicly on the intrusion outside of the legal filing, and it isn’t clear if customer (or “only” employee) data was stolen.

Maine’s data breach notification says the hack occurred over a year ago, from December 13 to 15, 2022. It states 82,128 people were affected, 64 of whom were Maine residents. National Amusements’ senior vice president of human resources filed the notice, which may suggest (but not confirm) that it revolved largely or entirely around internal employee data. The filing says the company began notifying customers in writing on December 22, 2023 — 372 days after the breach.

“On or about December 15, 2022, National Amusements became aware of suspicious activity in our computer network,” the notification letter to victims reads. “We immediately took steps to secure our network and minimize any disruption to our operations.”

However, that last sentence contains an inconsistency, as the notice posted by Maine’s Attorney General’s office lists the “date breach discovered” as August 23, 2023. That suggests the company didn’t know about the intrusion until eight months after the incident, hardly qualifying as “immediately” taking steps.

The filing says hackers accessed financial information, including “account number or credit/debit card number (in combination with security code, access code, password or PIN for the account).” National Amusements wrote in Maine’s notice that it’s offering victims 12 months of Experian credit monitoring and identity theft services to customers whose social security numbers were taken.

Engadget contacted National Amusements for confirmation or additional info. We will update this article if we hear back.

National Amusements gained a controlling stake in Paramount and CBS in 2019 following the Viacom-CBS merger. This hack appears separate from one Paramount disclosed in August through Massachusetts’…

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Sen. Michael Bennet Proposes Commission To Oversee Digital Platforms Including Social Media – CBS Denver


DENVER (CBS4) – In hopes of furthering the trust and security of the general public on the internet, Senator Michael Bennet has proposed legislation that would create a commission to oversee businesses operating on the internet. Bennet, the senior senator from Colorado, said the proposal comes as a way to assure some of the most powerful companies in the world are operating in the best interest of the American people.

(credit: CBS)

As of now, Bennet is the sole sponsor of the bill. He proposed creating a “Digital Platform Commission” which would operate and oversee companies using the internet much like how the Food and Drug Administration oversees the country’s guidelines when it comes to pharmaceuticals.

Bennet told CBS4’s Dillon Thomas the commission would help prioritize and balance free speech, national security and mental health.

“Our advisories are infiltrating social media platforms in the country,” Bennet, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said.

(credit: CBS)

In an interview with CBS4, the senator said the commission would oversee regulations and guardrails for big tech companies, including but not limited to platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Google, Amazon, Twitter and TikTok. While social media companies are behind many of the concerns some Americans have, Bennet said the commission would have oversight of American internet regulations.

Section 230, a law that was created in the 1990s, is one of the most debated federal laws when it comes to the powers given to major websites. The law largely gives immunity to companies for content uploaded by third parties. While Bennet said he believes Section 230 should potentially be revised, he felt the commission was a separate step that could be taken to further protect American interests.

“We have had basically completely unregulated social media platforms. These companies aren’t startups anymore. They are some of the most important and dominant companies in America,” Bennet said.

Bennet hoped the development of a five-person commission, made up of technology experts from differing parties and backgrounds, would help the country take action toward regulating big tech instead of allowing other…

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Denver DA Warns Android Users Of Attack After Security Issue Involving Mic, Camera – CBS Denver


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Police disagree with Apple on security as Arizonans tracked with AirTags | CBS 5 Investigates


PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) — Stalking through technology. Apple recently announced plans to add more measures to AirTags to cut down on unwanted tracking.

The Bluetooth devices are designed to track objects such as keys or backpacks, but reports are increasing across the country of the devices being used to stalk people.



Apple airtag tracking

Since the tracking devices were launched last April, the Phoenix Police Department has seen nine cases involving AirTags.




Apple’s website says it worked with law enforcement to update AirTag’s safety warnings, but there are concerns the efforts don’t go far enough.

Among the software updates that will happen later this year:

  • Alerting people sooner if a device is suspected to be tracking someone
  • A louder chirping sound if the device is separated from its owner
  • Instructions on how to find information on the device’s owner and disable the device.

Since the tracking devices were launched last April, the Phoenix Police Department has seen nine cases involving AirTags.

Detective Karrie Flanigan with the Mesa Police Department has worked on 5 cases involving spouses going through divorces or ex-boyfriends and girlfriends stalking each other.

What is…

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