Identity thieves lurking in P-to-P networks
Users of P-to-P (peer-to-peer) file-sharing services may be sharing more than they bargained for, a former White House cybersecurity advisor warned Thursday.
Security researchers have found thousands of files with sensitive information by searching through file-sharing networks, said Howard Schmidt, chief executive officer at R&H Security Consulting. Schmidt, who has also worked as chief security officer for Microsoft, made the comments during an SDForum seminar in Palo Alto, California, on Thursday.
Medical records, financial information and router passwords have all popped up on P-to-P networks, often after users inadvertently share folders containing the data. "People don't realize you're not just sharing your music," Schmidt said. "You're sharing your personal files."
