Donors, security experts blast Coleman campaign as credit card numbers show up online

[babylonsister]

Donors, security experts blast Coleman campaign as credit card numbers show up online
Republican, aides suggest partisan motives in aftermath
By Dave Orrick
[e-mail]
Posted: 03/12/2009 12:01:00 AM CDT


Long day for Norm Coleman: Not only did Al Franken not rest his case Wednesday, the Democrat also picked up 14 votes. (Pioneer Press: Jean Pieri)

Former Sen. Norm Coleman's campaign didn't do enough to protect donors' confidential information, and Wednesday that lapse came home to roost as more than 4,700 partial credit card numbers were posted on the Internet.

As data-privacy and security experts criticized the campaign's handling of a confidential donor database, the Republican and his aides suggested partisan motives — and told donors they should cancel their credit cards.

The U.S. Secret Service was investigating, and Coleman's attorney Fritz Knaak said the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension was aware of the situation. He and Coleman described the situation as theft.

It was unclear whether the campaign violated a state law by not disclosing until Wednesday — after the data surfaced on a self-described whistleblower Web site, posted anonymously — that the information, including entire credit card numbers, was vulnerable. A spokesman for Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson declined to comment.

more...

http://www.twincities.com/allheadlines/ci_11891772?nclick_check=1

[Cha]

1. Norm should have conceded

graciously while it was good.

[BOSSHOG]

2. I wonder if ole stormin norman wants to redo the election now!

[mod mom]

3. Here's a good explanation of what occurred:

In English - What REALLY happened with Norm's Donor Files - Updated 3X
by Eman

Thu Mar 12, 2009 at 08:31:34 AM PDT

I just finished reading WineRev's excellent diary today:
MN-Sen Events v. 99.0 Franken Rests Again
and realized that most people here probably have no clue what the geeks are talking about. When I got to where WineRev said this:

Well now I speak English, Estonian and Southern, some Spanish, a bit of Greek and Hebrew, and a touch of German and Latin. But have not the FAINTEST idea what "Palpitations" means by this. It sounds awful (you know, like having to be Ben Ginsberg's dentist without a mask) so I'll take his/her word for it. Anyone who can translate at least from Geek to Greek I would appreciate (just get it into aorist subjunctive in optative mood (Koine if you can) and I can dope it out from there.)

I realized that someone needs to try to explain what happened in English, so I will try.

Bottom line is that a BROWSER (FireFox, Safari, Internet Explorer) is designed to do just that - BROWSE the public areas of a website.

-snip

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/3/12/101429/589/230/707604

[MineralMan]

4. A well-done explanation. The word is getting out

that Norm and his webmaster are cretins.

[mod mom]

6. I bet he certainly pissed off a few of his (former) supporters.

[MineralMan]

7. Well, they will, once they know what happened....

The local MN press hasn't been too clever with its explanations so far.

[babylonsister]

5. Thanks for the link, mod mom. I needed help. :) nt

[mod mom]

8. I am such a computer illiterate that I've never even figured out how to post a

picture on DU. Waiting for the kids to grow up and teach me. :hi: