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Tag: IRS


Cyber-crime, Malware

Qakbot’s backbot: FBI-led takedown keeps crims at bay for just 3 months

December 19, 2023

Via: The Register

Multiple sources are confirming the resurgence of Qakbot malware mere months after the FBI and other law enforcement agencies shuttered the Windows botnet. Microsoft Threat Intelligence reckons a new Qakbot phishing campaign is active as of December 11 but attack […]


Data loss, Threats & Malware

GAO Report Reveals IRS’s Limited Control Over Taxpayer Data Handling

September 18, 2023

Via: SecureWorld

The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is entrusted with the vital responsibility of safeguarding sensitive taxpayer information. Recent incidents of potential unauthorized access to or disclosure of this data have raised concerns and prompted a thorough review by the Government […]


Cyber-crime, Phishing

Beware of old and new tax-themed scams and schemes

March 28, 2022

Via: Help Net Security

April 18 marks the end of the 2022 US tax season and those individuals who are yet to file their taxes should get a move on. But they should not throw caution to the wind, as scammers, fraudsters, phishers and […]


Cyber-crime, Phishing

IRS Warns Tax Professionals of Phishing Campaign Targeting EFINs

February 15, 2021

Via: Hot for Security

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) began accepting tax-return applications last Friday. As millions of citizens prepare for what may be the most challenging tax season to date, identity thieves got a head start, deploying phishing campaigns impersonating the agency as […]


Email security, Malware, Security

IRS Impersonation Attacks Spread Malware Nationwide

August 27, 2019

Via: Threat Post

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is warning taxpayers about a snowballing email attack that uses messages pretending to be legitimate IRS communications. The end game for the effort is malware being installed on unsuspecting users’ machines; imposters may gain control […]


Network security

IRS to relaunch more secure data retrieval tool for 2018-19 FAFSA

August 31, 2017

Via: CSO Online

Millions of students were affected when the IRS disabled the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) back in March due to security concerns. Taking down the data retrieval tool caused havoc for students applying for the Free Application for Federal Student […]


Threats & Malware

30,000 taxpayers affected by W-2 phishing scams, IRS warns

March 1, 2017

Via: Hot for Security

Now that tax season has begun, IRS-related phishing scams are back. This year, hackers are expanding their victim range to include school districts, NGOs and tribal organizations, according to an IRS alert released in February. “It can result in the […]


Phishing

IRS warns on super summer scam scourge

August 3, 2016

Via: CSO Online

The Internal Revenue Service this week warned taxpayers to stay vigilant against an increase of IRS impersonation scams in the form of automated calls and new tactics from scammers demanding tax payments on iTunes and other gift cards. The IRS […]


Cyber warfare, Network security

IRS unveils new cyber safeguards

June 29, 2016

Via: The Hill

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is implementing new cyber-security initiatives for 2017 to stay ahead of hackers. The agency is expanding a pilot program to add 16-digit verification codes to W-2 forms, which are used to report wage and tax […]


Vulnerabilities

IRS kills electronic filing PIN feature due to repeated attacks

June 28, 2016

Via: CSO Online

After repeated attacks, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service has decided to retire a Web-based tool for obtaining PINs that taxpayers could use to file tax returns electronically. The Electronic Filing (E-file) PINs Web application is no longer available on the […]


Access control

IRS Relaunches “Get Transcript” Service With Improved Security

June 14, 2016

Via: Security Week

The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced last week that it relaunched its Get Transcript online service after making some security improvements to its authentication process. The “Get Transcript” online service was launched by the IRS in January 2014 to […]


Data loss

Ryan wants IRS to immediately adopt security recommendations

March 31, 2016

Via: The Hill

Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) wants the Internal Revenue Service to immediately start working to adopt a watchdog’s recommendations to improve the security of taxpayer information. The Government Accountability Office issued a report earlier this week that recommended 43 actions the […]


Phishing

IRS issues warning to HR professionals over phishing scam

March 3, 2016

Via: We Live Security

Less than a month after it “renewed a consumer alert” for phishing scams, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the US has delivered another warning aimed this time at payroll and human resources professionals. It said that it has identified an […]


Application security

IRS raises number of Get Transcript app breach victims yet again

March 1, 2016

Via: Help Net Security

Remember when back in May 2015 the IRS took offline its Get Transcript app because it was misused by cyber-criminals to access sensitive personal information of more than 100,000 taxpayers? Well, the final number is much, much higher. In a […]


Privacy protection

IRS says it will get a warrant before using cell-site simulators

December 2, 2015

Via: CIO

The U.S. Internal Revenue Service is drafting a policy to restrict the use without a warrant of cell-site simulator technology to snoop on the location and other information from mobile phones. The head of the IRS, John Koskinen, wrote in […]


Access control

IRS enhances efforts to combat identity fraud, claiming upcoming tax season will be ‘more secure’

October 20, 2015

Via: access-control

The Internal Revenue Service and private tax preparers say they are beefing up efforts to limit tax-related #identity theft for the 2016 filing season, testing more than 20 new safeguards to protect taxpayers’ sensitive information. The #irs, state tax authorities […]


Privacy protection

IRS Encourages Poor Cryptography

February 18, 2015

Via: privacy-protection

I’m not sure what to make of this, or even what it means. The #irs has a standard called IDES: International Data Exchange Service: “The International Data Exchange Service (IDES) is an electronic delivery point where Financial Institutions (FI) and […]