Stories by Michael Cooney

How to get the IRS' attention: Forge nearly $8 million in tax returns, steal identities

A former Internal Revenue Service employee this week got 105 months in prison for pleading guilty to theft of government property and aggravated identity theft in a case where the guy tried to get away with nearly $8 million in fraudulent tax returns.

FBI unbolts Steve Jobs 1991 investigation file

The FBI today released a background check it did on Apple's founder Steve Jobs when he was being considered for a position on the President's Export Council under George H.W. Bush in 1991.

FTC warns background screening mobile apps may be unlawful

The Federal Trade Commission this week said it sent letters to six unidentified mobile applications makers warning them that their background screening apps may be violating federal statutes.

How NOT to get a job 101: Hack Marriott, extort execs for work

The Department of Justice today said a man who sent malicious code to Marriott International Corporation, threatening to reveal confidential information taken from the company's computers if Marriott did not offer him a job, has been sent to prison for his criminal endeavor.

FBI busts software copyright fugitive who fled to Pakistan

The FBI today said it arrested a man on charges of illegally reproducing and distributing more than 100 copyrighted commercial software programs who had fled the country after being indicted last year.

IRS helps bust 105 people in massive identity theft crackdown

The Internal Revenue Service and the Department of Justice teamed up for a coast-to-coast crackdown on identity thieves this week.

FTC to scrutinize mobile payment technology

Will mobile payments become common, and what will the impact of that technology be?

FBI busts programmer for stealing US Treasury code

The FBI said it arrested a computer programmer in New York this week and charged him with stealing proprietary software code from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The software known as the Government-Wide Accounting and Reporting Program (GWA) handles all manner of U.S. government financial transactions.

Security history: Nothing like an old-fashioned boot sector virus

It has been 26 years to the day when the computing world was introduced to its first virus: The Brain.

10 game-changing space galaxy discoveries

What's hot in space? Galaxies!

Computerized language translation started 58 years ago with IBM and Georgetown University

Hard to imagine but it has been 58 years since IBM and Georgetown University teamed up to run what they said was at the time the first English-to-Russian language computer translation program.

Cybersecurity help exists, focusing it is the trick

There are a ton of groups out there that offer cybersecurty help and guidance, the trick, it seems is finding he right one for you organization.

Mobile shopping had monster holiday season

Sales and traffic from mobile devices to online retailers during the holidays doubled over 2012 with Apple iPhone and iPad users leading the charge, according to research from IBM.

Do you know your cyberthreats?

The watchdogs at the Government Accountability Office this week issued a report that takes a look at what information, or guidance as they call it, is available to help government agencies and public sector companies bulk up their cybersecurity efforts.

FBI warns of new Zeus-based malware in phishing scam

So long as people click on unsolicited attachments in email, scammers will invent new ways to take their money, identities and more.