Jack Henry & Associates to Provide Webcast of Second Quarter Fiscal 2010 Earnings Call

MONETT, Mo., Jan. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Jack Henry & Associates, Inc. (Nasdaq: JKHY), a leading provider of integrated technology solutions and data processing services for financial institutions, today announced that it will host a live Webcast of its second quarter fiscal 2010 earnings conference call on February 3, 2010. The press release announcing second quarter earnings will be issued after market-close on February 2, 2010.



The live Webcast, which will begin at 7:45 a.m. Central (8:45 a.m. Eastern), can be accessed on the Jack Henry Web site at www.jackhenry.com. Please log-on 10 minutes prior to the beginning of the call. An archived replay of the quarterly earnings call will be available on www.jackhenry.com approximately one hour after the live call.

About Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.®



Jack Henry & Associates, Inc. (Nasdaq: JKHY) is a leading provider of computer systems and ATM/debit card/ACH transaction processing services primarily for financial services organizations. Its technology solutions serve more than 11,300 customers nationwide, and are marketed and supported through three primary brands. Jack Henry Banking supports banks ranging from de novo to mid-tier institutions with information processing solutions. Symitar™ is the leading provider of information processing solutions for credit unions of all sizes. ProfitStars® provides highly specialized products and services that enable financial institutions of every asset size and charter, and diverse corporate entities to mitigate and control risks, optimize revenue and growth opportunities, and contain costs. Additional information is available at www.jackhenry.com.

BBB's Data Security - Made Simpler Initiative

BBB Initiative Arms Small Business Owners With the Tools to Protect Business and Customer Data



BBB's "Data Security—Made Simpler" provides free, easy-to-understand guidance and turn-key resources to help small business owners prevent a data breach



ARLINGTON, Va., Jan. 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Better Business Bureau and partners Symantec Corporation, Visa Inc., Kroll's Fraud Solutions and NACHA – The Electronic Payments Association today launched a new national education initiative to help small business owners overcome any previous reluctance to taking the necessary steps to protect their sensitive customer and business data, so they won't become the next victim of a data breach.



Data security threats affecting small businesses are both external and internal, but many owners fail to recognize the potential for a breach or take the necessary protection steps until it's too late. The numbers:

• 33 percent of small businesses lack even simple antivirus protection. Source: Symantec Corporation, 2009
  
  


• 85 percent of data breaches occur at the small business level. Source: Visa Inc. September 2009


• 78 percent of consumers said they'd stop shopping at a store if they believed the store had experienced a card data compromise. Source: National survey of cardholders, Visa Inc., February 2009

"While data breaches affect businesses of all sizes, many small business owners aren't taking the necessary steps to create ongoing data security policies and practices, including training their employees," said Steve Cox, President and CEO of the Council of Better Business Bureaus. "Many small business owners recognize the importance of data security but don't understand how vulnerable they really are, may feel intimidated by the issue or think that they lack the resources to implement a sound strategy. As a result, data thieves often target small business owners, stealing both the sensitive financial information of the business and its customers."



BBB's Data Security—Made Simpler provides small and medium business owners with the guidelines and right-size resources they need to build a data security plan and put it into action right away. BBB's Data Security—Made Simpler includes turn-key guidance to help small business owners:

• Identify their data loss vulnerability points -- electronic and paper-based


• Develop a data security policy that both protects sensitive data, ensures its availability and restricts access


• Identify and deploy the right kind of tools to protect sensitive data, based on their type of business


• Communicate their data protection policies to customers as a strategy to strengthen the business - customer trust relationship and differentiate their company from their competitors


• Know what to do if they believe they've been a victim of a data compromise

In addition to providing free and easy-to-understand guidance through www.bbb.org/data-security/, the network of community-based BBBs across North America -- as well as partners Visa Inc., Symantec Corporation and Kroll's Fraud Solutions -- will reach out to small businesses to encourage an increased focus on data security.



Data Security—Made Simpler was created by BBB in collaboration with two nationally recognized data security experts, Dana Rosenfeld and David Zetoony. Dana Rosenfeld, formally an assistant director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, is an attorney with Kelley Drye & Warren LLP. David Zetoony is an attorney with Bryan Cave LLP and has counseled dozens of companies on how to respond to data security breaches.



For more information or to schedule an interview with a BBB spokesperson on online and offline practices small business owners can do to protect their data, contact Alison Southwick at 703-247-9376.



About BBB



BBB, the leader in advancing marketplace trust, is an unbiased non-profit organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. Businesses that earn BBB accreditation contractually agree and adhere to the organization's high standards of ethical business behavior. BBB provides objective advice, free business BBB Reliability Reports(TM) and charity BBB Wise Giving Reports(TM), and educational information on topics affecting marketplace trust. To further promote trust, BBB offers complaint and dispute resolution support for consumers and businesses when there is a difference in viewpoints. The organization is also a recognized leader in developing and administering self-regulation programs for the business community, and, with respect to the advertising industry, does that through a joint venture in conjunction with National Advertising Review Council partners. The first BBB was founded in 1912. Today, 123 BBBs serve communities across the U.S. and Canada, evaluating and monitoring more than four million local and national businesses and charities. Please visit www.bbb.org for more information about BBB.



About Visa Inc.



Visa is a global payments technology company that connects consumers, businesses, financial institutions and governments in more than 200 countries and territories to fast, secure and reliable digital currency. Underpinning digital currency is one of the world’s most advanced processing networks -- VisaNet -- that is capable of handling more than 10,000 transactions a second, with fraud protection for consumers and guaranteed payment for merchants. Visa is not a bank, and does not issue cards, extend credit or set rates and fees for consumers. Visa’s innovations, however, enable its financial institution customers to offer consumers more choices: Pay now with debit, ahead of time with prepaid or later with credit products. For more information, visit www.corporate.visa.com.



About Symantec Corporation



Symantec is a global leader in providing security, storage and systems management solutions to help consumers and organizations secure and manage their information-driven world. Our software and services protect against more risks at more points, more completely and efficiently, enabling confidence wherever information is used or stored. More information is available at www.symantec.com.

TSYS Signs Agreement with Caterpillar Financial Services

COLUMBUS, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--TSYS announced today it has signed a multi-year payment services agreement with Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation, the financial arm of Caterpillar Inc. Under terms of the agreement, TSYS’ industry leading TS2® platform will be used to process commercial credit accounts.



The agreement also includes TSYS CounterPASS, a Web-based virtual point-of-sale product, as well as internet-based reporting, statement and customer care services to support more than 900 Caterpillar dealer locations in the United States.



“This agreement is a testament to our continued commitment to innovation and customer service, and encompasses an enterprise-wide approach to providing Caterpillar Financial Services with support for its payments business,” said M. Troy Woods, president and chief operating officer of TSYS.



Terms of the long-term agreement were not released.



About TSYS



TSYS (NYSE: TSS) is one of the world’s largest companies for outsourced payment services, offering a broad range of issuer- and acquirer-processing technologies that support consumer-finance, credit, debit, healthcare, loyalty and prepaid services for financial institutions and retail companies in the Americas, EMEA and Asia-Pacific regions. For more information contact news@tsys.com or log on to www.tsys.com. TSYS routinely posts all important information on its Web site.

Genetic Flaw Identified in Humans! (Password Required)

The Times published an article containing a claim that "a genetic flaw" (vs. "stupidity") is the reason people choose dumb passwords. They may be easy to remember,  but they are also easy to guess/steal.  Here's a snippet:  



The New York Times

Back at the dawn of the Web, the most popular account password was “12345.” Today, it’s one digit longer but hardly safer: “123456.”

  

Despite all the reports of Internet security breaches over the years, including the recent attacks on Google’s e-mail service, many people have reacted to the break-ins with a shrug. 



According to a new analysis, one out of five Web users still decides to leave the digital equivalent of a key under the doormat: they choose a simple, easily guessed password like “abc123,” “iloveyou” or even “password” to protect their data.



“I guess it’s just a genetic flaw in humans,” said Amichai Shulman, the chief technology officer at Imperva, which makes software for blocking hackers. “We’ve been following the same patterns since the 1990s.”



Mr. Shulman and his company examined a list of 32 million passwords that an unknown hacker stole last month from RockYou, a company that makes software for users of social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace. The list was briefly posted on the Web, and hackers and security researchers downloaded it. (RockYou, which had already been widely criticized for lax privacy practices, has advised its customers to change their passwords, as the hacker gained information about their e-mail accounts as well.)

The trove provided an unusually detailed window into computer users’ password habits. Typically, only government agencies like the F.B.I. or the National Security Agency have had access to such a large password list.

“This was the mother lode,” said Matt Weir, a doctoral candidate in the e-crimes and investigation technology lab at Florida State University, where researchers are also examining the data.



Imperva found that nearly 1 percent of the 32 million people it studied had used “123456” as a password. The second-most-popular password was “12345.” Others in the top 20 included “qwerty,” “abc123” and “princess.”

Continue Reading at the New York Times

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The Secure POS Vendor Alliance Broadens its International Reach with Five New Payment Company Members

Elavon, GHL Systems, ID TECH, Independent Purchasing Cooperative (IPC) and Voltage Security join an elite group of payment industry leaders



ATLANTA--(Payments Industry News Blog)--The inaugural year of the Secure POS Vendor Alliance (SPVA) wrapped up with the same enthusiasm with which it began – capped off by the membership of five more leading payment and enterprise security companies. Joining the SPVA are Elavon, ID TECH, Independent Purchasing Cooperative, Inc. (IPC), Voltage Security, Inc., and the first Asia-based company, GHL Systems Berhad.





“We welcome these new companies and applaud their efforts to join the conversation and dramatically impact the industry in the coming years.”



“We’re indeed pleased to be part of the SPVA. This initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to ensure the highest levels of security and conforming to globally-recognized standards," said GHL Systems’ Vice President of Product Marketing & Strategic Alliances Jason Phua. “It is also vitally important that the aspirations of GHL Systems in the areas of payment security, as well as those of our customers, are represented.”



The SVPA is a non-profit business organization founded by Hypercom (NYSE: HYC), Ingenico S.A. (EURONEXT: ING) and VeriFone (NYSE: PAY) to advance compliance of existing payment card security standards, protect cardholder information and defend merchants and acquirers against security breaches. Membership is open to all vendors that develop secure POS payment systems or have products or solutions that interact with secure POS payment devices such as retailers, acquirers and banks.



Members of the SPVA are committed to ensuring best practice implementation and working to evolve security enhancements and interoperability required to reduce fraud and lower risk for all participants in card payment transactions.



“As we move into 2010, there is equally as much excitement and innovation in the payment industry as there is concern for security,” said Steven Hughes, SPVA president. “We welcome these new companies and applaud their efforts to join the conversation and dramatically impact the industry in the coming years.”



New associate members that have signed up with the SPVA since October 2009 include:



Elavon's Global Acquiring Solutions organization is a part of U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB). Elavon provides end-to-end payment processing services to more than one million merchants in Europe, the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Solutions include credit and debit card processing, electronic check services, gift cards, dynamic currency conversion, multi-currency support, and cross-border acquiring. Elavon has solutions to meet the needs of merchants in specialized markets including small business, retail, hospitality/T&E, health care, education and the public sector. For more information visit www.elavon.com.



GHL Systems Berhad (“GHL Systems”), an MSC-status company listed on the Main Board of Bursa Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange), is the Asia/Pacific region’s leading end-to-end payment services enabler that deploys world-class payment infrastructure, services and technology. GHL Systems’ complete portfolio of payment solutions include transaction routers and concentrators, terminal line encryption technologies, loyalty and online payment solutions, smartcard technologies, secure EDC networks and terminals to consulting services. By providing a broad range of services across the payment solutions spectrum, GHL Systems today deploys its products and services to multiple clients spread across various vertical segments in various countries all over the globe – not limited to banking and financial services institutions, telecommunications, transportation, retail and oil and gas. For more information on GHL Systems, visit www.ghl.com.



ID TECH is a privately held company with sales, manufacturing and research facilities around the world. The company has a well-established reputation for technical excellence through research and engineering design. Designing dependable, featurerich products has made ID TECH a leading supplier of magstripe and smart card readers, barcode readers, keyboards, PCI-compliant PIN pads, and other specialty products for OEMs, VARs, resellers, distributors, and key end users. ID TECH provides both standard and custom solutions to support customer requirements. Find more about ID TECH and locate a sales and product representative at www.idtechproducts.com.



Independent Purchasing Cooperative, Inc. (IPC) is an independent SUBWAY® franchisee-owned and operated purchasing cooperative. IPC negotiates the lowest cost for goods and services, while improving quality, enhancing competitiveness and ensuring the best value to SUBWAY® restaurants and their customers. Moreover, IPC is committed to delivering returns to its members year after year. By organizing as a cooperative, the business initiatives are set by the owner members and are benchmarked by the active participation of an elected Board of Directors. Working under the direction of the franchisee Board of Directors, IPC’ s Management Team carefully selects strong trading partners and manages the risks inherent to the costing and distribution of products and services in the food service industry. To learn more about IPC, visit www.ipc.com.



Voltage Security, Inc., an enterprise security company, is an encryption innovator and global leader in end-to-end data protection. Voltage solutions, based on next generation cryptography, provide end-to-end encryption, tokenization, masking and stateless key management for protecting valuable, regulated and sensitive information such as payment card data. Voltage products enable reduction in PCI audit scope with rapid implementation and the lowest total cost of ownership in the industry through the use of award-winning cryptographic solutions, including Voltage Identity-Based Encryption (IBE) and a new breakthrough innovation: Format-Preserving Encryption (FPE). Offerings include Voltage SecureMail, Voltage SecureData, Voltage SecureFile and the Voltage Security Network (VSN), an on-demand managed service for the extended business network. Voltage has also been issued several patents based upon breakthrough research in mathematics and cryptographic systems. Customers include Global 1000 companies in banking, retail, insurance, energy, healthcare and government. www.voltage.com.



To learn more about SPVA membership opportunities, visit www.spva.org.



About Secure POS Vendor Alliance (www.spva.org) The Secure POS Vendor Alliance (SPVA) is a non-profit organization, founded by Hypercom (NYSE: HYC), Ingenico S.A. (EURONEXT: ING) and VeriFone (NYSE: PAY), that works with the multiple stakeholders of the payment value chain. Its aim is to develop an end-to-end security framework and to enhance security elements of payment solutions which protect cardholder information and defend merchants and acquirers against security breaches, while helping reducing fraud and lowering risk for all electronic payment stakeholders.

Vietnam Plastic Card Market - Includes Future Forecast to 2013

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/e5e944/vietnam_plastic_ca) has announced the addition of the "Vietnam Plastic Card Market Forecast to 2013" report to their offering.



Vietnam's payment card market is relatively small but one of the most dynamic markets in the world. The popularity of payment cards in Vietnam has soared significantly over the past couple of years. The cards are increasingly used in the number of shopping malls and various on-line portals that carry luxury or world-class brands of consumer goods. The market has grown nearly three-fold over the last two years ending August 2009. Debit cards dominate the market whereas credit cards are relatively new in the market and account just for 2% of the total market of payment cards in the country. Therefore, the market for credit cards remains largely untapped and full of opportunities.



As per findings of our report "Vietnam Plastic Card Market Forecast to 2013", with the growing consumer awareness, technological developments and emerging trend of e-commerce, there is ample scope for further developments in the Vietnamese payment cards market. The market is expected to grow at CAGR of about 20% during 2010-2013. Debit cards with domestic acceptance will continue dominating the market. However, credit cards and internationally accepted cards will still be left with plenty of miles to go.



The report provides an extensive research and rational analysis along with reliable statistics of the payment cards (debit as well as credit cards) market in Vietnam. It contains detailed analysis of emerging market trends, current developments and competitive landscape to enable clients better understand the market situation. Considering the recent developments and shift in macroeconomic factors, the report also features future outlook of the payment card industry, which will help clients in taking more rational investment decisions.



Moreover, "Vietnam Plastic Card Market Forecast to 2013" has special emphasis on the business profile of key players operating in the country. It has identified major players in each of the segments discussed in the report like debit cards, credit cards, etc. In addition to this, the report also focuses on the technological developments in the payment card market and tries to answer the crucial questions that concern every investor or player looking to enter the market. Key Topics Covered:

1. Analyst View


2. Macroeconomic Overview


3. Payment Card Industry Analysis to 2013


4. Major Card Issuers

Companies Mentioned:

• Vietcombank


• VietinBank


• Asian Commercial Bank


• Techcombank

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/e5e944/vietnam_plastic_ca

TSYS Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2009 Results

COLUMBUS, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--TSYS (NYSE: TSS) today reported results for the fourth quarter and full year 2009. On a constant currency basis, TSYS’ total revenues for 2009 were $1,734.9 million, an increase of 0.8%. On a reported basis, total revenues declined 2.0% for the year to $1,688.1 million.



On a constant currency basis, TSYS’ total revenues for the fourth quarter were $430.9 million, a decrease of 0.4% as compared to last year. On a reported basis, total revenues increased 0.5% for the quarter to $434.8 million.



Basic earnings per share (EPS) from continuing operations were $0.31 for the fourth quarter, $0.01 ahead of consensus estimates and 9.0% below 2008. Full year EPS of $1.12 from continuing operations matched consensus estimates and was 11.2% below last year.



TSYS’ guidance for 2010 includes the impact of deconverted portfolios (whether as the result of bank failures, portfolio sales or otherwise), price compression, reduction in one-time termination fees and currency impact, and the current economic environment of the credit card market.

	2010 Guidance Range
	(in millions, except per share amounts)								Percent Change
Total revenues	$1,616			to	$1,648				(4	%)			to			(2	%)
Reimbursable items	$279			to	$284				3	%			to			5	%
Revenues before reimbursable items	$1,337			to	$1,364				(6	%)			to			(4	%)
Income from continuing operations	$187			to	$191				(15	%)			to			(13	%)
EPS from continuing operations	$0.95			to	$0.97				(15	%)			to			(14	%)
Average Shares Outstanding	197.7

“While 2010 is going to be a challenging year, we will continue to work aggressively to reduce our costs, including reducing staff, while expanding internationally and maintaining our technological advantage in the market place. We have an experienced and talented team at TSYS who will successfully execute our strategy to return growth to our business. In addition, with our strong balance sheet and cash flow, we will continue to aggressively pursue strategic acquisitions that diversify us and expand our presence in the payments processing business,” said Philip W. Tomlinson, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of TSYS.



Conference Call



TSYS will host its quarterly conference call at 5:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, January 20. The conference call can be accessed via simultaneous Internet broadcast at tsys.com by clicking on the link under "Webcasts" on the main homepage. The replay will be archived for 12 months and will be available approximately 30 minutes after the completion of the call. A slide presentation to accompany the call will be available by clicking on the link under "Webcasts" on the main homepage of tsys.com.



Want to see ALL the numbers?  Click here

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Heartland Bank and KeyBank Sued over HPY Settlement

At least five financial institutions are not HPY with Visa's Heartland settlement...



Bank Info Security dot com and Finextra are both reporting this morning that the Heartland Payment Systems settlement with Visa has resulted in a class action lawsuit against Heartland Bank and Key Bank.  Apparently enough financial institutions feel they were let off the hook...

Five financial institutions have filed a class action suit alleging that two acquiring banks, Heartland Bank and Key Bank, should be included as defendants and share responsibility for damages caused by the Heartland Payment Systems data breach.



Lone Star National Bank, PBC Credit Union, O Bee Credit Union, Seaboard Federal Credit Union and Pennsylvania State Employees Credit Union filed the class action complaint in the U.S. Southern District Court in Houston, TX on Tuesday. Heartland Bank is based in St. Louis, MO, and Key Bank is based in Cleveland, OH.



The case was brought after a proposed $60 million Visa/Heartland data breach settlement, which would result in banks and credit unions accepting the offer receiving only "pennies on the dollar," according to one of the lawyers representing the financial institutions.



Visa estimates the losses because of the breach total $140 million, according to its Account Data Compromise Recovery (ACDR) formula, says Richard Coffman, co-lead counsel for the financial institutions in the class action suit. "That number is mythical and has nothing to do with reality," Coffman says, suggesting that the real losses aren't known by Visa. Coffman advises that affected institutions should review carefully the proposed settlement between Heartland and Visa. He says the proposed settlement has several weak points; namely it:

• Offers little money to the banks affected in the breach;


• Gives them little time to decide whether to take part in the settlement;


• Releases Heartland and other parties that may be liable.

Continue Reading at BankInfoSecurity.com

.

Here is more on the subject from Evan Schuman's Storefront Backtalk:

Some Banks Try Again For Class-Action Heartland Lawsuit

Written by Evan Schuman

January 21st, 2010



Shortly after Heartland tried to sweep away most of the lawsuits against with a series of recent negotiated settlements, a group of banks is trying to persuade other banks to reject the settlement offer and support a class-action lawsuit against Heartland.

The lawsuit, filed Tuesday (Jan. 19), hit Heartland hard for “Heartland’s lack of Payment Card processing system security, its desire to use a ‘lowest bidder’ system of selecting its outsourced IT ‘auditors,’ its reliance on a ’snapshot’ telling it that, at one identifiable point in time its system supposedly complied with the bare minimum industry standards, its startlingly poor IT oversight in general, and (Heartland’s) complete and utter disregard of the oversight responsibilities they had to their fellow members of the Associations that allowed the intruders to make trip after trip in and out of the Heartland Payment Card processing system.”



Continue Reading at StorefrontBacktalk.com

Hundreds of Websites Defaced after Network Solutions Breach

Help Net Security reports a major US hosting provider and domain registrar has been breached leading to the defacement of hundreds of customer websites.  One of the more disturbing features of this breach was the fact that two simple words accompanied the defacement:  Those two words?  "Allahu Akba".



Here's a snippet from HNS:



Networks Solutions breached, hundreds of sites defaced



Network Solutions, the well-known U.S. hosting provider and domain registrar that manages over 6.6 million domain names, confirmed on Tuesday that their servers have been breached and that a few hundred of their customer's web sites have been defaced by unknown attackers who have replaced the home pages with the picture depicted on the left. 



Brian Krebs reports that the writing supposedly contains anti-Israeli sentiments and attributes the hacking to one "CWkomando". According to the Minnesota’s 8th District chapter of the Republican Party - whose web page has also been hit - the writing contains words "For Palestine" and "Allahu Akbar" ("God is great" in Arabic).



Continue Reading

Microsoft Urges Government and Industry to Work Together to Build Confidence in the Cloud

Company proposes 'The Cloud Computing Advancement Act' to strengthen privacy and security protections, deter cybercrime, enhance transparency, and clarify international rules and regulations.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Today, Brad Smith, senior vice president and general counsel at Microsoft Corp., urged both Congress and the information technology industry to act now to ensure that the burgeoning era of cloud computing is guided by an international commitment to privacy, security and transparency for consumers, businesses and government.



During a keynote speech to the Brookings Institution policy forum, "Cloud Computing for Business and Society," Smith also highlighted data from a survey commissioned by Microsoft measuring attitudes on cloud computing among business leaders and the general population.



The survey found that while 58 percent of the general population and 86 percent of senior business leaders are excited about the potential of cloud computing, more than 90 percent of these same people are concerned about the security, access and privacy of their own data in the cloud. In addition, the survey found that the majority of all audiences believe the U.S. government should establish laws, rules and policies for cloud computing.



At today's event, Smith called for a national conversation about how to build confidence in the cloud and proposed the Cloud Computing Advancement Act to promote innovation, protect consumers and provide government with new tools to address the critical issues of data privacy and security. Smith also called for an international dialogue on data sovereignty to guarantee to users that their data is subject to the same rules and regulations, regardless of where the data resides.



"The PC revolution empowered individuals and democratized technology in new and profoundly important ways," said Smith in his keynote address. "As we move to embrace the cloud, we should build on that success and preserve the personalization of technology by making sure privacy rights are preserved, data security is strengthened and an international understanding is developed about the governance of data when it crosses national borders."



He continued, "Microsoft is committed to fostering the responsible development of cloud computing to ensure that data is accessible, safe and secure. We also need government to modernize the laws, adapt them to the cloud, and adopt new measures to protect privacy and promote security. There is no doubt that the future holds even more opportunities than the present, but it also contains critical challenges that we must address now if we want to take full advantage of the potential of cloud computing."



Microsoft's proposed legislation calls for the following:

• Improvements in privacy protection and data access rules to ensure users' privacy, starting with reforming and strengthening the Electronic Communications Privacy Act to clearly define and provide stronger protections for consumers and businesses;


• Modernization of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act so law enforcement has the tools it needs to go after malicious hackers and deter instances of online-based crimes;


• Truth-in-cloud-computing principles to ensure that consumers and businesses will know whether and how their information will be accessed and used by service providers and how it will be protected online;


• Pursuit of a new multilateral framework to address data access issues globally.

The full text of Brad Smith's speech can be read at the Microsoft News Center at http://www.microsoft.com/news/cloudcomputing-policy.





About the Survey



The survey was commissioned by Microsoft and conducted by Penn, Schoen and Berland. The survey was conducted Dec. 16–22, 2009, and reached 700 members of the general population, 200 senior IT decision-makers and 200 senior business decision-makers. The margin of error for each survey group was 3 percent, 6 percent and 6 percent respectively.



About Microsoft



Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.



SOURCE Microsoft Corp. RELATED LINKS

http://www.microsoft.com

RSA Global Survey: Confidence in Social Networking Security Shaken as Online Crime Rises

• More than 4,500 people divulge concerns with safety of personal information on the Internet and a desire for better identity protection, in survey from EMC's security division


• Two in three people reluctant to share on social networks


• Three in ten people fall prey to phishing attacks; a six-fold increase in just two years

BEDFORD, Mass., Jan. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- RSA, The Security Division of EMC (NYSE: EMC), announced the results of its 2010 Global Online Consumer Security Survey that polled more than 4,500 consumers regarding their awareness of online threats, concerns with the safety of their personal information online and their willingness to share it, and desire for better identity protection.



To view the multimedia version of this release, visit:

http://www.rsa.com/go/press/RSATheSecurityDivisionofEMCNewsRelease_12010.html



Of the more significant survey findings, consumer awareness of phishing attacks has doubled between 2007 and 2009 and the number of consumers who reported falling prey to this attack increased six times during that same period of time. In addition, while hundreds of thousands of people join social networking websites each day, the survey exposed that nearly two in three (65 percent) people who belong to these online communities indicated they are less likely(1) to interact or share information due to their growing security concerns.



Social networking websites have become a hotbed for online criminals because of their global reach and the participation by hundreds of millions of active users from all walks of life. This makes these communities prime targets for exploitation by criminals who seek to steal personal information through socially engineered attacks. Reflective of this trend, the survey exposed that four out of five (81 percent) people using social networking websites displayed concern(2) with the safety of their personal information online.



"Fraudsters continue to fine-tune their array of tactics that result in millions of computers becoming infected with Trojans and other malware," said Christopher Young, Senior Vice President at RSA. "These online criminals are adept at social engineering with at-the-ready phishing attacks that are launched within moments of breaking news about popular celebrities, professional athletes or serious global events. In these cases, people are lured to legitimate websites infected with malware as well as complete fakes designed to look like well-known news sources. Within these websites, Trojans can easily be masked as 'required' updates to a media player which can result in countless computers becoming infected with malware. While it's difficult to prevent consumers from visiting these websites, we can do a better job of protecting those who do."



Consumers more aware of phishing threats, but new attack methods dupe six times as many in just two years



In a similar RSA survey in 2007, one in three (38 percent) consumers reported they were aware of the threat of a phishing attack – and this figure doubled in two years(3) where three in four (76 percent) consumers have become aware. Additionally, in RSA's 2010 survey, nine in ten consumers (89 percent) reported concerns caused by the threat of phishing.



Despite increased awareness, there have been a growing number of online users that have fallen victim to a phishing attack. In the 2007 RSA survey, only one in twenty (5 percent) consumers cited they had fallen victim to a phishing scam – and this rate increased six-times in 2009 to represent three in ten (29 percent) consumers. This increase can be attributed to more advanced communications tactics and greater sophistication such as improved writing and web design skills on the part of the fraudsters. Phishing attacks have also evolved in an attempt to exploit users in different ways and through a broader variety of methods including offshoots known as "vishing", "smishing" and "spear phishing."



The sheer volume of phishing attacks launched in recent months is also contributing to these trends. The RSA® Anti-Fraud Command Center recently reported(4) the highest-yet detected rates of phishing attacks between August and October 2009, as well as a 17 percent increase in the total number of attacks between 2008 and 2009.



An increase in consumer knowledge of online threats is further evident from the growth in the number of respondents that expressed awareness of Trojans. In 2007, 63 percent of consumers stated that they were aware of Trojans and in 2009 that figure climbed to 81 percent.



Consumers' safety concerns translate to significant eagerness for better identity protection



Online banking continues to provide significant levels of convenience for consumers, with quick access to checking and savings accounts, the ability to pay bills automatically, transfer funds and perform other financial transactions. There is dramatic adoption of the use of social networks in which people use to form and nurture personal and professional relationships with each other. Finally, healthcare organizations as well as local, state and federal government agencies are bringing the power and convenience of online services to the consumer – offering access to personal healthcare records, driver's license renewals and payment of tax bills.



The RSA survey revealed that consumers using online banking (86 percent) websites shared more concern with the theft of their personal information than those using healthcare portals (64 percent) and government websites (68 percent). As a result of these concerns, more than half of all consumers reported that they are less likely to share information and interact on these websites.



Consumers agreed that their identities should be better protected than a simple username and password on social networking (59 percent), healthcare (64 percent), government (70 percent) and online banking (80 percent) websites. Nine in ten consumers are willing to use a stronger form of security if offered.



Young continued, "Consumer education and awareness is one of the first lines of defense in the ongoing battle against online crime. Organizations will continue to take advantage of the many benefits offered by the Internet and consumers will seek the convenience offered online – all despite the inherent risks. In order to maximize the full value of what the online world can offer, organizations need to take a layered approach to Internet security in order to best protect their customers' information."

Survey Methodology

• Respondents totaled 4,539 consumers between the ages of 18 and 65


• Conducted in October 2009 by market research firm InfoSurv, Inc.


• Represented 22 countries across North America, South America, Europe and Asia Pacific


• All respondents actively use the Internet

Addendum



(1) "Less likely" = "somewhat less likely" + "much less likely"



(2) "Concerned" = "somewhat concerned" + "very concerned"



(3) The 2010 Global Online Consumer Security Survey was conducted in October 2009



(4) Source: RSA Monthly Online Fraud Report, November 2009



About RSA



RSA, The Security Division of EMC, is the premier provider of security solutions for business acceleration, helping the world's leading organizations succeed by solving their most complex and sensitive security challenges. RSA's information-centric approach to security guards the integrity and confidentiality of information throughout its lifecycle – no matter where it moves, who accesses it or how it is used.



RSA offers industry-leading solutions in identity assurance & access control, data loss prevention, encryption & key management, compliance & security information management and fraud protection. These solutions bring trust to millions of user identities, the transactions that they perform, and the data that is generated. For more information, please visit www.RSA.com and www.EMC.com.



RSA is a registered trademark or trademark of RSA Security, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. EMC is a registered trademark of EMC Corporation. All other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.



SOURCE EMC Corporation

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Who Wins The Mobile [Payments] Platform Wars?

Industry Leaders Sound Off in new PYMNTS.com Briefing Room on Mobile



BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The PYMNTS.com Briefing Room on Mobile Platform Wars focuses on the varying and sometimes competing approaches to mobile commerce currently in play, including NFC, barcode, SMS, and the development of applications for mobile platforms such as the iPhone and Google's Android. Leading mobile players such as Fiserv and Mocapay express their views on "what's next" in mobile payments.



The full Mobile Platform Wars briefing room can be found here, http://www.pymnts.com/mobile-platform-wars/.



PYMNTS.com promotes the companies, products and people that drive "what's next" in payments, worldwide.



PYMNTS.com is a joint venture between Berkshire Hathaway's Business Wire and Market Platform Dynamics. In the two months since its launch, PYMNTS.com has assembled a very large and highly engaged community of relevant (and senior) industry executives and opinion makers across the payments ecosystem who regularly click on its newsletter, visit the site, and spend a lot of time there. PYMNTs.com has become the "hub" for payments innovation for those whose core business is payments and for those who view payments as central to their own commerce capabilities.



For information on PYMNTS.com contact info@PYMNTS.com. You can also follow PYMNTS.com on Twitter at http://twitter.com/PYMNTS and join the PYMNTS Linked In group.



About Market Platform Dynamics (MPD):



MPD is a management consulting firm that ignites catalyst businesses by leveraging new technologies, business models and pricing strategies. MPD has a wealth of experience within industries that are characterized by complex platform-centered ecosystems, including payments, mobile/telecoms, digital and advertising-supported media, and software-based businesses.





MPD works with both incumbents and new entrants, offering a unique lens into the dynamics that shape the competitive playing field. In addition to traditional consulting-based services, MPD’s Catalyst Ventures provides intellectual and human capital to new firms. MPD’s experts include economists, econometricians, product development specialists, and strategic marketers who apply cutting-edge business theory and statistical methods to the practical problems of building and growing a profitable catalyst business. MPD is headquartered in Cambridge, MA, and has offices in London and Hong Kong.



For more information visit www.marketplatforms.com.

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MoneyGram and Bank of China Announce Agreement for 10,000 Branches in China

MoneyGram International and Bank of China Announce Agreement to Bring Money Transfer Service to the Bank’s 10,000 Branches in China





Completion of Successful Pilot in Beijing Leads to Expansion Throughout Bank’s Network



MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MoneyGram International (NYSE: MGI), a leading global money transfer company, and Bank of China, a pillar of China’s banking community and Global Fortune 500 company, announced today an agreement that will bring MoneyGram money transfer services to Bank of China’s 10,000 domestic branches in the mainland in the coming years. The agreement, which more than triples MoneyGram’s presence in this growing remittance market, follows the successful completion of a six-month pilot that ran in 240 Bank of China branch locations in Beijing.



MoneyGram will begin rolling out its money transfer services in Bank of China branches in key provinces across the southern and eastern coast in China beginning in January and will continue expanding throughout the Bank’s extensive network in the country in 2010 and 2011. In addition, this new strategic alliance with Bank of China will create further opportunities for MoneyGram’s money transfer services in several other countries in the Asia Pacific region.



“This partnership brings significant benefits to MoneyGram, the Bank of China and to the billions of people in this region,” said Pamela H. Patsley, MoneyGram chairman and CEO. “With more than $25 billion in annual remittances, China is a critical focus for MoneyGram’s market expansion in 2010,” said Patsley. “We are delighted to further align ourselves with Bank of China’s globally recognized brand and to bring more value, more options and more convenience to the increasing number of money transfer consumers across this important remittance market.”



MoneyGram has been providing services in China since 1994 through agents including Industrial & Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), Bank of Communications (BCOM), CITIC Bank, China Industrial Bank, Shengjing Bank (former Shengyang Commercial Bank); Shenzhen Ping An Bank and Anshan Bank.



About MoneyGram International



MoneyGram International offers more control and more choices for people separated from friends and family by distance or those with limited bank relationships to meet their financial needs. A leading global provider of money transfer services, MoneyGram International helps consumers to safely send money around the world with funds arriving at available agent locations in as little as 10 minutes. Its global network is comprised of 186,000 agent locations in more than 190 countries and territories. MoneyGram’s convenient and reliable network includes retailers, international post offices and financial institutions. To learn more about money transfer at an agent location, please visit www.moneygram.com or find us on Facebook.



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MoneyGram "Hungary for Expansion"

MoneyGram International Adds Hungary to List of Countries in Global Money Transfer Network

Corner Cash adds money transfer services in 11 cities

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MoneyGram International (NYSE: MGI), a leading global money transfer company, today announced that it has expanded its money transfer services to Hungary through new super agent Corner Cash Keszpenz Zrt, which is adding the service at its currency exchange shops in 11 cities across the country.

“Money transfer services are a vital part of the economy in Hungary and MoneyGram will focus on providing the greatest value as it grows its locations across the country.”

“After nearly seven years without a presence in Hungary, MoneyGram is pleased to be back with a partner like Corner Cash, providing Hungary’s 10 million people a new choice and a better value for money transfer services,” said John Hempsey, executive vice president for MoneyGram’s Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific regions. “Money transfer services are a vital part of the economy in Hungary and MoneyGram will focus on providing the greatest value as it grows its locations across the country.”



The World Bank estimated that in 2008, Hungary’s remittance market was worth nearly $4.5 billion with the United States, the Ukraine, Germany, Romania, and the Slovak Republic being key send and receive markets.



In addition to adding MoneyGram’s services to its 11 locations, Corner Cash is focused on adding MoneyGram services to other locations across Hungary.



Hempsey added, “The Corner Cash locations are well established financial service businesses in Hungary’s mid-sized cities. Together we plan to rapidly grow our service and especially gain a presence in Budapest.”



Hungary is the first country added to MoneyGram’s global network in 2010. 

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