On Using Fake Data to Generate Alerts

Here’s a tip of Mikko’s from September:

Tip: Insert unique fake users and customers into your production databases, then set up a Google Alert to notify you if they get leaked.

— Mikko Hypponen (@mikko) September 19, 2012

Insert unique fake users and customers into your production databases, then set up a Google Alert to notify you if they get leaked.

And here’s a Washington Post article from today:

By Ellen Nakashima: To thwart hackers, firms salting their servers with fake data

Not a bad idea, eh?

We’ve also known people that make intentional spelling errors when providing personal data to companies, so that they can track how the information is used and sold.

Fake data: welcome to the future.

On 03/01/13 At 08:50 AM

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