Microsoft engineers new data recovery method

Software giant Microsoft has led a group of engineers in developing a new project that will allow internet users to report stolen data, including credit card numbers and other private information.

Dan Clements, former president of CardCops, told The Age that the new system will allow researchers handle data they find online and deliver it back to companies and individuals.

“We send it to everybody immediately. We send it to companies, the government, the consumer – it’s a blitzkrieg. That way they have all the intel and can act accordingly,” he said. “You could call it scattershot. It’s the only way you can assure that we’ve done our job. But we have no way of knowing it’s effective.”

The program is also being managed by the non-profit National Cyber-Forensics and Training Alliance, along with the American Bankers Association and online auction giant eBay.