US GAO Reports Government Agencies Still Using Verification Method Weakened by Equifax Database-Breach
Nearly two years after the Equifax database hacking, the US Government Accountability Office (US GAO) released a report last Friday naming government agencies still using the Knowledge-Base Authentication method in running their online operations. The revelation by the government watchdog serves as a warning to people transacting online with agencies like the Social Security Administration, the US Postal Service, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and the Veterans Affairs that their accounts and their benefits, are vulnerable to cyber attacks.
The US GAO is concerned that the Equifax database breach in 2017 resulted to the exposure of personal identifying information belonging to more than 148 million Equifax credit report users.
Knowledge-Base verification is the second stage security measure used by a website when authenticating users intending to replace a forgotten password. Usually the verification requires giving answers to security questions about personal information known only to the account holder. If supplied correctly, a change in password will be allowed to grant access to whoever initiated the password change. .
Breached personal information providing details about credit-cards, Social Security Number, Driver’s License, date of birth, email addresses and phone numbers, can be used by cyber criminals in surreptitiously accessing benefits and other privileges provided by the aforementioned government agencies. Considering that account passwords can easily be replaced by using Knowledge Base authentication approach, rendered weak as a result of the Equifax database hacking that made massive personal information available to cyber criminals. . .
That is why immediately after the Equifax credit report data-hacking transpired in 2017, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) recommended the discontinuance of Knowledge Base Authentication as second-level method of verifying the identity of online account holders. .
However, the US GAO noted that the 2017 NIST notification did not include guidelines for directing government agencies on how to implement alternative methods of remote identity proofing, such as in-person verification, or through the use of user mobile devices when checking in.
Actions Taken by Government Agencies Cited in the US GAO Report
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The U.S. Department of Commerce agreed to the GAO’s recommendation, and has committed in behalf of the NIST, the Social Security Administration, the US Postal Service, and Veterans Affairs that steps will be taken to improve the security in their remote identity verification processes.
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), through the Department of Health, disagreed with the GAO recommendation. According to the CMS, the alternative methods recommended are not feasible practices as far as the citizens availing CMS services are concerned.
In response, GAO underpinned the reasons for their recommendation, suggesting that the CMS may consider other alternative methods other than those recommended by GAO in the report.
Is Getting a House Loan Really Necessary
Almost everyone’s dream is a home ownership especially in America because it is one of the countries where getting a house is kind of hard because of its price. Fortunately, the government has addressed this kind of issue and promoted it for years through implementation of a variety of federal programs, since investing on houses will boost the economy. According to the Census Bureau, almost 60 percent of Americans were able to get a house through loans and lainavertailu. You can visit the site Zmarta if you want a loan to make your dream come true or combine existing loans. Zmarta compares loan offers for you so you can choose the best loan offer from their lenders depending on your capability. Check out their Loan Calculator and find the right option for you in just a few minutes.
If you are a beginner when it comes to loans. Here are some of the basic information to help you get through the process of getting a house loan. First is the income requirement where the lenders will assess how much you can borrow money from any bank or institution. The general rule is that your monthly income must be no less than 3 to 3.5 times as big as your monthly amortization.
Bank Accreditation is also another requirement. Some people find a property first and then try applying for loan at banks which is more hassle compared to finding the accredit developer of your bank. For accredited developers, loan processing will be much more easier and hassle free. In addition to that, they may also have special interest rates or higher loanable amounts.
These are just some of the important requirements you need to understand prior to you loan application. So how are you able to get approval for your application? First is that you need to clean up your credit history. This is one of the problems of borrowers after submitting a home loan application. Whether the debt is from another institution or bank then it is possible that your application will be disapprove because it means that you are not capable of paying off your debt.
Creating stability is also an important step to consider prior to application. Borrowers do not want to invest on risky clients so do the very best you can by staying financially stable. How? You will just avoid new debt and over spending- financing a new car, signing a new loan, or going on an expensive trip.
If you think you are ready for this journey, apply for housing loan at your preferred company/bank/ institution.
Political Finance – Grassroots Fundraising
Hustle Life provides useful guides and marketing strategies for affiliate marketers to draw in and increase customers, since more customers would mean more sales and more sales would mean an increase in finances. It is undeniable that funding or finance plays an important aspect in an organization or business for it to work operationally. This is also true in the political world.
Political Finance
Political finance embraces all funds or finances that are raised and expended for political activities and purposes. Such purposes include all political voting contests by citizens, particularly the campaigns for elections of different public offices that are managed by candidates and parties.
The yearly budgets of these kinds of organizations will also need to be regarded as political competition costs. The related term “party finance” is often used in Europe. It only refers to funds or finances that are amassed and expended with the aim of influencing the result of some kind of party competition. It is yet an unsettled concern on whether to add in other political intents, such as campaigns for public relation by lobbyists. Even a scope of limited political purposes, party activity and campaign, specifies that the term “campaign funds” is very narrow to include all funds and finances that are utilized in the political process.
Grassroots Fundraising
Grassroots Fundraising is utilized by political candidates, it is a common way of raising funds that has become more recognized with the advent of the Internet. This method has been used by presidential candidates in the United States, such as Howard Dean and Barack Obama. Political candidates without substantial media coverage of “top dog” status, or those who are maybe against the influential lobby factions which impact the nominating process of the political party make use of the Grassroots fundraising method.
It frequently encompasses mustering support of grassroots to realize a particular fundraising target or arranges for a particular time or day of the week for grassroots advocates or supporters to contribute to the campaign. This could likewise be a mode for organizations to draw in and get people to contribute or donate as well as to cleverly and purposefully involve more people. Grassroots fundraising embraces the efforts and determinations to reach out and connect to the community served as well to acquire networks and resources for the campaign.
Pluses of Grassroots Fundraising
- The benefits of Grassroots fundraising revel in the close, interrelated linkages of support by community.
- By obtaining funding from numerous resources, organizations or candidates could avoid the risks of reliance on a small number of sources or contributions from membership, and the possible instability in the funding provisions.
- Organizations could concentrate on the serving the community instead of their funders. Through this method of fundraising, a structured public delivers an incalculable amount of support and vigor .Peer-to-peer fundraising is a structure that presents prospective donors the mission and plan of action of the organization or campaign, with contributions or donations given under the expectancy that it will go in the direction of the specific efforts and initiatives of the organization.
- With an extensive support of benefactors, organizations are capable of remaining dedicated to their missions, principles, as well as recipients.
Oil – It Moves the Price of Everything
There will always be a huge demand for oil. Thus, the rise in price is always great news among producers. It’s an automatic increase in their profits and revenue. On the other hand, oil importers are going to experience the consequences of all this for they have to bear the increased costs of buying oil. Since oil is the biggest traded commodity, even the slightest movement in its price is already significant.
In fact, the fluctuation in oil price is capable of affecting a country’s economy and even political authority from oil exporters to importers.
Good News/Bad News
Increase in oil prices results to boosting account position of oil exporters and other exports as per World Trade Oil statistics. It can result to deterioration in current account position of other oil importers like Germany and China. Oil exporters see a huge increase in reserves of foreign currency which they may use in buying foreign assets like in Arabic countries most specifically Saudi Arabia to which they serve a vital player of US securities.
With the mark in oil price increase, it contributes to higher level of inflation. This is due to the reason that transport costs would rise that will result to higher prices of various goods. This is going to cost-push inflation. This is different compared to the inflation that is caused by excess growth and/or rising aggregate demands.
Of Course, It’s the Consumers who Bear it All
Consumers are going to suffer from discretionary income. They are facing higher transportation costs but don’t have the monetary power to compensate for rising incomes. Having higher oil prices can also hinder economic development and growth.
The cost-push inflation that is brought by the rising oil prices is a problem amongst policymakers too. More often than not, higher inflation demands higher rates of interests in keeping inflation on target.
However, reducing inflation might not be the most appropriate option as the output may be below full employment.
Arguably, back in early 2008, several politicians have given too much attention to cost-push inflation than on impending economic downturn.
Despite the fact that oil prices are unpredictable, this encourages various companies to find other oil supplies no matter what’s the price associated to it. Since the 1970 oil price shock, it has created new wave of countries who started producing oils.
Regulations on Auto Title Loans
Just like Tucson auto title loans, a car title loan also termed as “auto title loan” or “title loan” is a type of short-term loan wherein the title of the borrower’s car is utilized as collateral. It is a must that the borrower be the lien holder or must personally own the car. These types of loans are typically for 30 days or less. In the event that the borrower fails to repay the loan on the agreed terms, the lender can take possession or ownership of the automobile and have it sold to get back the amount loaned by the borrower.
Regulations on Car Title Loan
If you have pondered on getting a car title loan, you may already be aware that these short-term loans could be very helpful for an individual who may be of immediate need of cash but unfortunately don’t hold the best or a favorable credit score. Usually, what one needs in obtaining an auto loan is a driver’s license that’s valid and the title to the car, truck, RV, boat, or other motorized vehicle that you own. Nonetheless although you may have done your research on the rate of interest, loan terms, as well as alternative that are similar to title loans is probably common in your locale, you may have forgotten to take into account the laws and regulations of the state regarding car title loans.
What is the Basic Legality?
The particular laws that preside over title loans could differ depending on the town, region, state, or country that you reside in. Some states limit the rate of interest that a lender of an auto title can impose or levy, while some states may not have such laws imposed.
Under Federal Government Law
Car Title Loans, according to the federal government, are permitted and legal except if clearly banned or forbidden by the state. That sentence certainly encapsulated the totality of the interest of the federal-level in Car Title Loans. These loans were solely regulated by the law of the state, with the underlying idea that they were permitted in accordance with the federal law if allowed by the state. But, Title Loans have been the center of topic at the federal level. According to the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, they aren’t planning to prohibit or ban car title loans; yet, there are new regulations and laws being deliberated on to make certain that lenders of car title loans are only loaning or lending to borrowers who could meet the expense of to repaying their loans. There also has been a dialogue of forming a governing agency that lenders of title loans will have to periodically report to make sure that clients are protected.
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