Open Security Foundation To Maintain Attrition.org's Data Loss Database - Open Source

Mon Jul 14 23:20:11 EST 2008



RICHMOND, VA, July 14, 2008 - The Open Security Foundation (OSF) is pleased to announce that the DataLossDB (also known as the Data Loss Database - Open Source (DLDOS) currently run by Attrition.org) will be formally maintained as an ongoing project under the OSF umbrella organization as of July 15, 2008.

Attrition.org's Data Loss project, which was originally conceptualized in 2001 and has been maintained since July 2005, introduced DLDOS to the public in September of 2006. The project's core mission is to track the loss or theft of personally identifying information not just from the United States, but across the world. As of June 4, 2008, DataLossDB contains information on over 1,000 breaches of personal identifying information covering over 330 million records.

DataLossDB has become a recognized leader in the categorization of dataloss incidents over the past several years. In an effort to build off the current success and further enhance the project, the new relationship with OSF provides opportunities for growth, an improved data set, and expanded community involvement. "We've worked hard to research, gather, and make this data open to the public," says Kelly Todd, one of the project leaders for DataLossDB. "Hopefully, the migration to OSF will lead to more community participation, public awareness, and consumer advocacy by providing an open forum for submitting information."

The Open Security Foundation's DataLossDB will be free for download and use in non-profit work and research. The new website launch (http://www.datalossdb.org/) builds off of the current data set and provides an extensive list of new features. DataLossDB has attained rapid success due to a core group of volunteers who have populated and maintained the database. However, the new system will provide an open framework that allows the community to get involved and enhance the project. "For a data set as dynamic as this, it made sense to build it into a more user-driven format.", states David Shettler, the lead developer for the Open Security Foundation. "With the release of this new site, the project can now be fed by anyone, from data loss victims to researchers".

The DataLossDB's mail list will continue to be available to over 1,500 current subscribers and will accept new subscriptions under the Attrition.org banner until a migration to OSF has been completed. RSS feeds will also be available under the OSF banner for timely alerts about new and updated data loss events. We expect this transition to be completed in the coming months without impact to current subscribers.

Open Security Foundation's DataLossDB is an open source community project that strives to provide a clear understanding of data loss issues and needs your support. Assistance can be provided through database updates, project leadership, word-of-mouth promotion, financial donations, and sponsorship to assist with the ongoing maintenance of the project. "The DataLossDB project provides a critical service that enables detailed analysis on the true impact of data loss.", says Jake Kouns. "The Open Security Foundation is in a perfect position to support the expansion of the DataLossDB project." Any entities interested in licensing the database for commercial ventures are encouraged to contact OSF.

Open Security Foundation's DataLossDB can be found at
http://www.datalossdb.org/

Press Contacts:

Kelly Todd
Email: kelly@opensecurityfoundation.org

David Shettler
Email: dave@opensecurityfoundation.org

Jake Kouns
Email: jkouns@opensecurityfoundation.org

Brian Martin
Email: bmartin@opensecurityfoundation.org

Open Security Foundation: (804) 306-8412


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