security measures

BEIJING — China expressed “resolute opposition” and “strong dissatisfaction” with a new U.S. cyberespionage rule limiting imports of Chinese-made information technology products, the state media reported over the weekend.

The remarks underscore growing tension between the world’s top two economies after the United States accused China of backing a string of hacking attacks on U.S. companies and government agencies. China says that the accusation lacks proof and that it is also a victim of hacking attacks, more than half of which originate in the United States.

The new provision, tucked into a funding bill signed into law in Washington on Thursday, requires NASA, as well as the U.S. Justice and Commerce Departments, to seek approval from national law enforcement officials before buying information technology systems from China. The United States imports about $129 billion worth of “advanced technology products” from China, according to a May 2012 report by the U.S. Congressional Research Service.

The Chinese state media, including Xinhua, China Daily and People’s Daily, quoted a spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Commerce on Saturday as saying the U.S. bill “sends a very wrong signal.”

“This will directly impact partnerships of Chinese enterprises and American business as they conduct regular trade,” said Shen Danyang, the Commerce Ministry spokesman.

“This abuse of so-called national security measures is unfair to Chinese enterprises, and extends the discriminatory practice of presumption of guilt,” the article in the official People’s Daily said, quoting Mr. Shen. “This severely damages mutual trust between the U.S. and China.” The United States should eliminate the law, Mr. Shen said.

The technology security lawyer Stewart Baker wrote in a blog post last week that China could claim that the United States was violating World Trade Organization rules. However, because Beijing has not signed a W.T.O. agreement setting international rules for government procurement, it may not be successful in its challenge, Mr. Baker said.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei urged the United States at a news conference to abandon the law. “This bill uses Internet security as an excuse to take discriminatory steps against Chinese companies,” he said.

Article source: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/01/business/global/beijing-opposes-us-rule-on-technology-imports.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Identity theft, according to the Federal Trade Commission, “occurs when someone uses your personally identifying information, like your name, Social Security number or credit card number, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes.”

How your information is stolen, and how it is used, varies greatly. With stolen Social Security numbers, thieves are filing false medical claims, applying for mortgages and opening lines of credit for fictitious businesses. By adding fake fronts onto A.T.M.’s or gas pumps, they are collecting credit card numbers and PINs.

But while the trade commission estimates that nine million Americans are victims of some sort of identity theft each year, these extreme cases of identity fraud remain rare, luckily.

You may find that you will need only to close a compromised account or freeze your credit if errors appear. But recovering from the effects of an extreme case of identity theft can be incredibly messy and time-consuming. You could be denied a mortgage, for example, or refused new lines of credit. It can take months or even years to repair your credit history, and this type of crime is hard to prosecute.

While financial institutions, health care companies and other organizations have taken steps to improve security measures in recent years, do not rely on them to protect you. Taking some common-sense steps now can help prevent major headaches later.

PREVENTION Your first step should be to review monthly statements from your checking and other financial accounts. The earlier you catch an error, the easier it is to resolve it. Yes, balancing your checkbook may seem a monotonous chore, but understanding where your money goes will help you spot any irregular withdrawals or charges. Reviewing your credit card bill each month is critical as well, especially if you charge a lot of your daily purchases. If you have not already, this may be a great time to sign up for online accounts. It’s easier and faster to review accounts online, on a computer you trust.

Next, order and review your credit reports. The three credit agencies, TransUnion, Equifax and Experian, are each required by law to provide you one free credit report a year. AnnualCreditReport.com has links to all three, and it is the only place to get them free. (Other sites may try to charge you or get you to sign up for monthly services of some sort.) Stagger your requests, and you can monitor your credit history every four months. While you are at it, make sure your name, address and other information are correct. If you find old or inaccurate information, have it removed.

While companies like your health care provider are no longer printing Social Security numbers on member identification cards, a lot of personal information is still out there. Be sure to shred old bank statements, applications for new credit cards and other documents that have personal information.

Secure your personal information online and offline. Do not carry your Social Security card in your wallet. Keep it at home with your other important documents. Be careful about online passwords as well and change them often. And be vigilant about sharing personal information when opening new accounts online. If online advertisements or offers seem too good to be true, they probably are.

ACTION The steps you will need to take to recover from identity theft depend on the type of fraud you believe has occurred. If you are going through your monthly statements and see an error on an existing credit card, monthly bill or financial account, first call the company to report it.

By federal law, credit card companies have strong consumer protections in place, and they have large departments to investigate fraud. For that reason, you may want to consider using a credit card to pay for online and major purchases. That will give you more protection than if you use a debit card, because the money comes directly out of your bank account when you use a debit card. Making purchases with a credit card provides a layer of protection.

Once you have reported the error and determined there is reason to believe a fraud has occurred, the Federal Trade Commission recommends that you place an initial fraud alert with one of the three major credit reporting agencies. (They are required by law to report the fraud alert to the other two agencies.) The alert, which remains on your credit report for 90 days, automatically entitles you to a free copy of your report. Review this for any accounts you did not open or activity you did not conduct, and confirm that the report has your correct name, address and Social Security number.

Once you have determined that a fraud has occurred, you should also file both a complaint form with the trade commission and an identity theft report with your local police department. And you should file these complaints if you see any new accounts on your credit reports that you did not personally open.

Article source: http://feeds.nytimes.com/click.phdo?i=040cd97c169287ac6d44c08fb87454c6

Beijing Opposes U.S. Rule on Technology Imports

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