Document text
1 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW EMERGENCY SERVICES ... Gap fire eclipses 17,500 acres but is slowed by cooler, moist marine air ... Judge tells driver in Medford shooting he learned 'a nasty little lesson' ... EMERGENCY SERVICES ... Gap fire eclipses 17,500 acres but is slowed by cooler, moist marine air ... Judge tells driver in Medford shooting he learned 'a nasty little lesson' ... SINCE YOU ASKED Since You Asked: Oregon handles possible data breach differently Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Sep. 1, 2016 at 12:01 AM Posted Sep. 1, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Social News I've been following this possible data breach involving hunting and fishing license in Oregon and Washington, and I am curious why the two states are handling this so differently. Washington shut its license system down and is letting anybody and everybody fish without the need of licenses or tags. Yet Oregon is going on as if nothing has happened. What gives? — J.J., Medford What we have here, J.J., isn't a failure to communicate. It's that the two states simply are responding to the same possible problem based and how their computer license-sales systems operate. Washington decided to take its whole license-sales system down while it investigates the possible data breach, while Oregon's possible exposure was only through a minor portal in its sales system because, unlike Washington, there are still avenues to buy licenses. Just to get everyone up to speed, both states sell hunting and fishing licenses through a vendor called Active Outdoors, which is part of the Dallas-based Active Network. Someone identifying himself as "Mr. High" sent emails Tuesday to Active Outdoors as well as the two state fish and wildlife agencies saying he had compromised the system's data security and they should fix it. The license data include people's Social Security numbers that state and federal laws require to be collected to search for dead-beat dads lagging on their child-support payments. Washington immediately shut its system down Tuesday and later issued the open season on free fishing through Tuesday, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. However, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife shut its Internet portal down Tuesday while it investigated. ODFW spokesman Rick Hargrave says the agency's technicians found no apparent data breach and reopened the portal. The agency closed it again Thursday when the state's chief information officer opened its own investigation into the possible hack, and that investigation remains ongoing. The Internet portal is responsible for fewer than 20 percent of ODFW license sales. The point-of-sale license system used in retail stores across Oregon remains working, as does the system for selling licenses at ODFW offices, Hargrave says. "We're still providing licenses," while Washington is not, Hargrave says. "It might be a minor inconvenience for some, but for the most part people can get their licenses," Hargrave says. — Send questions to “Since You Asked,” Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by email to [email protected] . To see a collection of columns, go to mailtribune.com/youasked . We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Sep. 1, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501