Understanding the dangers of identity theft and how a company or Essay

Understanding the dangers of identity theft and how a company or individual can be protected from it - Essay Example As advancement in technology made access to information easier, many unscrupulous people take advantage of their skills and steal sensitive information from companies and private persons online. According to the Identity Theft Resource Center, a non-profit organization based in the United States (www.idtheftcenter.org), in 2010, there were about 662 cases if information security breaches reported in the United States but the actual number may be higher since not many people and organizations report breaches on their information security system. People whose identity have been assumed by another can suffer tremendous loses. Note that once somebody steals another person’s identity, he or she may be able to access the bank accounts and other personal information of the victim (Abagnale, 2007). As it is, there is a big possibility that the victim may lose money and assets on the process. Aside from taking money and other assets from their victims, some identity thieves use the ide ntity of their victims to commit crimes (Cullen, 2007). For instance, an identity theft can sue the identity of his or her victim in fraudulent online transactions so when the fraud is reported to the police, the police go after the identity theft victim. As it is, it is very important that individuals and organizations understand the kind of risks that they are in and do something to protect themselves from identity thieves. II. Ways and Means Employed by Identity Thieves to Gain Access to Important Information There are a number of ways to commit identity theft but the most common are social engineering, phishing and hacking attempts. Social engineering is committed by exploiting human psychology to gain entry to databases, computer systems and even buildings with sophisticated security system (Hadnagy, 2010). Note that instead of attacking the software or system used by a company or individual, the identity theft uses mind tricks to retrieve sensitive information for the people i nside the building and the people who are running the databank or the system (Hadnagy, 2010). To get the information that he or she needs to gain access into the building or the database, the identity does a lot of research and identify the key persons who he or she will retrieve the needed information (Wilhelm, 2010). For instance, if the identity theft wants to gain access to a database, he or she may pose as a computer technician or IT support person and trick an employee in the IT division to divulge passwords and codes to gain access into the system. Although the basic principles of trickery used in social engineering may sound simple, the execution of the act requires careful planning and psychological manipulation skills (Mitnick, 2003; Allsopp, 2009). When planning its strategies to defraud his or her victim, the identity needs to gather all the necessary information to trick the victim. To do this, he or she may access the personal information of the person targeted using e xisting social networks such as facebook, linked in and others (Mitnick, 2003; Wilhelm, 2010). Note that a good number of users of these online networking sites tend to give out personal information such as e-mail addresses and even telephone numbers online which may them relatively easy preys for identity thieves (Wilhelm, 2010). From the information gathered from these social networking sites, the identity may now be able to psychologically manipulate the victim into giving him or her sensitive information. In most cases, the deception happens online or through the phone so the identity theft and his or her victims do not actually come face to face (Allsopp, 2009). Aside from social engineering, phishing is also commonly used by identity thieves to steal information from their victims. To steal information from their victims, identity theft pretends to be a reliable online entity such as a bank, a well known courier, website and the like (Abagnale, 2007).

Quality Assurance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

Quality Assurance - Essay Example Causes of shortfall in quality of air traffic control operations will also be identified to enable the management develop counteractive mechanisms to avoid future quality failures. The paper will recognise the role of quality improvement processes in ensuring NATS improves its service delivery. Strategies of managing and communicating quality improvements will be discussed in order to enable the management understand proper ways of creating awareness concerning quality improvements. Service quality primarily compares the expectations of air traffic control operations with its actual performance. The quality of a service determines the extent to which a service is tailored to meet the needs of customers (Summers, 2009). Principles of quality management are relevant to air traffic control operations since they encourage various institutions to focus on service features that can meet customer specifications. The quality of air traffic control services is determined by the strategies that navigation institutions adopt in performing their services. NATS witnessed the biggest shortfall in its service quality on December 7, 2013 caused by a breakdown in IT systems. NATS can address quality service problems through quality management processes including quality improvement cycle, total quality management, business process re-engineering and benchmarking. It is critical for NATS and the industry of air traffic control to ensure proper management and communication of qua lity improvements to both employees and customers using the tools of quality management. NATS has the potential for achieving competitiveness in service quality if the management embeds quality in its organisational culture. NATS has witnessed widespread teething problems caused by catastrophic failures of its software management systems. Passengers experienced 130,000 minutes delay with approximately 1,300 flights facing a severe delay.

Broome County CAFR Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Broome County CAFR - Article Example With the increased use of debt capital for financing, the magnitude of interest payable on outstanding debt increases (Megginson and Smart, 2008, p.53). The actual long term solvency would depend on the ability of the company to generate sufficient incomes from their operations so that they are able to service fixed interest payable on outstanding liability. Generally the ideal value of debt ratio should be less than 0.50. Debt Equity Ratio The Debt to Equity ratio is a measure of relative proportion of debt to shareholders’ equity that is used by the company to finance its assets. It is one of the indicators for long term solvency of a company. The two components of this ratio are derived from the balance sheet of the company that reflects the company’s financial position on a given date. The debt observed in this ratio is usually the long term debt of the organization. The composition of debt and equity in the capital structure of a firm determines influences value of firm and its long term solvency (Gibson, 2012, pp.285-286). Basically, this ratio is a measure of company’s future obligations relative in balance sheet to equity and higher values indicate that company’s long term debt exceeds shareholders’ equity. Hence, the ideal value should be less than 1. Financial Health Analysis When the balance sheet of Broom County was analyzed for the years 2006 and 2007, it was found that Debt Ratio of Governmental Activities was 50.61% and 49.06% respectively. As discussed earlier, the acceptable value of this ratio should be less than 50% and the organization seems to have deleveraged their balance sheet in the year 2007 from 2006. The value of this ratio from Business Activities for... This research is being carried out to conduct a long term solvency test on Broom County. It is referred to as the company’s ability to honor long term obligations. In order to assess the long term solvency of the firm there are many standard ratios available such as Debt size ratio, Debt to equity ratio, Cash flow coverage ratio, Debt service as percentage of revenues, and so on. In this study the long term solvency of Broom County was analyzed using two key ratios namely Debt size ratio and Debt equity ratio. The formulas for the respective ratios are as follows, Debt Size Ratio = Total Debt/Total Asset Debt-Equity Ratio = Total Debt/Total Net Asset Debt Size Ratio measures the degree of financial leverage of the company, and generally higher values indicate higher financial risk. The ratio indicates whether the company is in a better financial position to service its total debt with its total assets. The Debt to Equity ratio is a measure of relative proportion of debt to shareholders’ equity that is used by the company to finance its assets. It is one of the indicators for long term solvency of a company. When the balance sheet of Broom County was analyzed for the years 2006 and 2007, it was found that Debt Ratio of Governmental Activities was 50.61% and 49.06% respectively. As discussed earlier, the acceptable value of this ratio should be less than 50% and the organization seems to have deleveraged their balance sheet in the year 2007 from 2006. The value of this ratio from Business Activities for both the years are less than 50% and are hence within tolerable limits.

Building Surveyor Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Building Surveyor - Essay Example If we want to know the about the importance of the Building Surveying then first we will have to know about the Building Surveying. Building Surveying is the geometric measurement of the building in plan, section and elevation. Cutting edge equipments are used to perform a wide variety of measurement surveys. Robotic laser instruments are used to electronically observation and digitally recording of the surveys. Distances are electronically measured with light beams. Position is fixed with the help of a technology known as satellite positioning technology (GPS). Construction machines can be automatically guided by satellites and laser beams. We use Laser scanners for obtaining 'clouds' of points to create digital 3-D models of our environment for planning and development purposes. Use of the Computer-aided tacheometry and photogrammetry increases day by day for surveying building geometry. Manual methods such as tape, measuring-stick or laser-distance meter are also used for buildings.

Chronic Pancreatitis Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Chronic Pancreatitis - Term Paper Example General Description Chronic Pancreatitis (CP) is a heterogeneous, progressive disorder of the pancreas characterized by a spectrum of symptoms pain, inflammation, diabetes mellitus, and pancreatic damage leading to significant loss of both endocrine and exocrine functions of the pancreas (Witt and associates, 2007; DiMagno & Dimagno, 2006). Pathology involves fibrosis in the pancreatic parenchyma that manifests irregularly. Other organs in the vicinity are also affected as consequence of the disease that may commence as an individual or a group of symptoms resulting from functional impairment of pancreas. The major clinical symptom of the disease is recurring or persistent pain within the abdomens. The chief cause of CP in the western world is alcohol abuse leading to alcoholic calcific pancreatitis (ACP). The other form of CP known as tropical calcific pancreatitis (TCP) prevalent in tropical countries is of uncertain etiology (Lee, 2011). Based on the risk factors CP is classified by the TIGAR-O (Toxic-metabolic, Idiopathic, Genetic, Autoimmune, Recurrent and severe acute, Obstructive) classification system (Nair tet al., 2007). Figure 1: Anatomy of the pancreas (http://www.britannica.com/bps/media-view/68636/1/0/0) Pancreas: Normal Physiology Pancreas is a retroperitoneal structure in the upper abdomen that can broadly be divided into head, body, and tail (figure 1). A major portion of pancreatic tissue comprises of acini (80%) that are responsible for the exocrine functions of the pancreas. Groups of aciniform spherical lobules that are interspersed with connective tissue. The central ducts of each lobule in which the secretions of the surrounding acinar cells accumulate, join to extralobular ducts that finally drain into the main pancreatic duct. The main pancreatic duct carrying the secreted digestive enzymes enters the hepatopancreatic ampulla along with bile duct. At the duodenal papilla, the enzymes enter the duodenum (Adda et al., 1984). The endocrine functions of the pancreas are performed by the richly vascularized islets of Langerhans. The islets of Langerhans comprise of beta, alpha and delta cells that secrete hormones insulin, glucagon, somatostatin respectively. The most abundant beta cells (73-75%) are centrally located and are surrounded by alpha cells (18-20%) and delta cells (4-6%). The rich vascularization allows for the transfer of hormones from the islets while the specific arrangement of the alpha, beta and delta cells allows paracrine regulation of hormones. Thus high concentrations of the insulin secreted by the central beta cells inhibit glucagon release from the peripheral alpha cells. The venous blood flow from the islets of Langerhans reaches the hepatic portal vein, rendering the liver the prime target for the impact of pancreatic hormones. The rich innervations of the pancreas ensure the release of several neurotransmitters in the pancreas that regulate the release and concentrations of hormones (Case, 200 6). During normal physiology, in the basal state, the secreted pancreatic fluid is mildly alkaline comprising a few proteins. Gastric distension and acid production during eating stimulate duodenal S cells causing the release of secretin. Under the influence of the secretin, a large quantity of the bicarbonate-rich watery liquid or the hydraulic secretion is released from the ductal cells of the smaller ducts.  

Broome County CAFR Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Broome County CAFR - Article Example With the increased use of debt capital for financing, the magnitude of interest payable on outstanding debt increases (Megginson and Smart, 2008, p.53). The actual long term solvency would depend on the ability of the company to generate sufficient incomes from their operations so that they are able to service fixed interest payable on outstanding liability. Generally the ideal value of debt ratio should be less than 0.50. Debt Equity Ratio The Debt to Equity ratio is a measure of relative proportion of debt to shareholders’ equity that is used by the company to finance its assets. It is one of the indicators for long term solvency of a company. The two components of this ratio are derived from the balance sheet of the company that reflects the company’s financial position on a given date. The debt observed in this ratio is usually the long term debt of the organization. The composition of debt and equity in the capital structure of a firm determines influences value of firm and its long term solvency (Gibson, 2012, pp.285-286). Basically, this ratio is a measure of company’s future obligations relative in balance sheet to equity and higher values indicate that company’s long term debt exceeds shareholders’ equity. Hence, the ideal value should be less than 1. Financial Health Analysis When the balance sheet of Broom County was analyzed for the years 2006 and 2007, it was found that Debt Ratio of Governmental Activities was 50.61% and 49.06% respectively. As discussed earlier, the acceptable value of this ratio should be less than 50% and the organization seems to have deleveraged their balance sheet in the year 2007 from 2006. The value of this ratio from Business Activities for... This research is being carried out to conduct a long term solvency test on Broom County. It is referred to as the company’s ability to honor long term obligations. In order to assess the long term solvency of the firm there are many standard ratios available such as Debt size ratio, Debt to equity ratio, Cash flow coverage ratio, Debt service as percentage of revenues, and so on. In this study the long term solvency of Broom County was analyzed using two key ratios namely Debt size ratio and Debt equity ratio. The formulas for the respective ratios are as follows, Debt Size Ratio = Total Debt/Total Asset Debt-Equity Ratio = Total Debt/Total Net Asset Debt Size Ratio measures the degree of financial leverage of the company, and generally higher values indicate higher financial risk. The ratio indicates whether the company is in a better financial position to service its total debt with its total assets. The Debt to Equity ratio is a measure of relative proportion of debt to shareholders’ equity that is used by the company to finance its assets. It is one of the indicators for long term solvency of a company. When the balance sheet of Broom County was analyzed for the years 2006 and 2007, it was found that Debt Ratio of Governmental Activities was 50.61% and 49.06% respectively. As discussed earlier, the acceptable value of this ratio should be less than 50% and the organization seems to have deleveraged their balance sheet in the year 2007 from 2006. The value of this ratio from Business Activities for both the years are less than 50% and are hence within tolerable limits.

Chronic Pancreatitis Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Chronic Pancreatitis - Term Paper Example General Description Chronic Pancreatitis (CP) is a heterogeneous, progressive disorder of the pancreas characterized by a spectrum of symptoms pain, inflammation, diabetes mellitus, and pancreatic damage leading to significant loss of both endocrine and exocrine functions of the pancreas (Witt and associates, 2007; DiMagno & Dimagno, 2006). Pathology involves fibrosis in the pancreatic parenchyma that manifests irregularly. Other organs in the vicinity are also affected as consequence of the disease that may commence as an individual or a group of symptoms resulting from functional impairment of pancreas. The major clinical symptom of the disease is recurring or persistent pain within the abdomens. The chief cause of CP in the western world is alcohol abuse leading to alcoholic calcific pancreatitis (ACP). The other form of CP known as tropical calcific pancreatitis (TCP) prevalent in tropical countries is of uncertain etiology (Lee, 2011). Based on the risk factors CP is classified by the TIGAR-O (Toxic-metabolic, Idiopathic, Genetic, Autoimmune, Recurrent and severe acute, Obstructive) classification system (Nair tet al., 2007). Figure 1: Anatomy of the pancreas (http://www.britannica.com/bps/media-view/68636/1/0/0) Pancreas: Normal Physiology Pancreas is a retroperitoneal structure in the upper abdomen that can broadly be divided into head, body, and tail (figure 1). A major portion of pancreatic tissue comprises of acini (80%) that are responsible for the exocrine functions of the pancreas. Groups of aciniform spherical lobules that are interspersed with connective tissue. The central ducts of each lobule in which the secretions of the surrounding acinar cells accumulate, join to extralobular ducts that finally drain into the main pancreatic duct. The main pancreatic duct carrying the secreted digestive enzymes enters the hepatopancreatic ampulla along with bile duct. At the duodenal papilla, the enzymes enter the duodenum (Adda et al., 1984). The endocrine functions of the pancreas are performed by the richly vascularized islets of Langerhans. The islets of Langerhans comprise of beta, alpha and delta cells that secrete hormones insulin, glucagon, somatostatin respectively. The most abundant beta cells (73-75%) are centrally located and are surrounded by alpha cells (18-20%) and delta cells (4-6%). The rich vascularization allows for the transfer of hormones from the islets while the specific arrangement of the alpha, beta and delta cells allows paracrine regulation of hormones. Thus high concentrations of the insulin secreted by the central beta cells inhibit glucagon release from the peripheral alpha cells. The venous blood flow from the islets of Langerhans reaches the hepatic portal vein, rendering the liver the prime target for the impact of pancreatic hormones. The rich innervations of the pancreas ensure the release of several neurotransmitters in the pancreas that regulate the release and concentrations of hormones (Case, 200 6). During normal physiology, in the basal state, the secreted pancreatic fluid is mildly alkaline comprising a few proteins. Gastric distension and acid production during eating stimulate duodenal S cells causing the release of secretin. Under the influence of the secretin, a large quantity of the bicarbonate-rich watery liquid or the hydraulic secretion is released from the ductal cells of the smaller ducts.