It's up to businesses to ensure cybersecurity

There have been small-scale cybercrimes involving businesses right here in Maine, like the Works Bakery and Cafe in Portland and Agincourt Wallboard in Westbrook. The target may well have been customer credit card numbers, the theft of which could result in a host of financial crimes. 

The biggest consumer data breach in U.S. history took place not at a government agency or huge bank, but in the parking lot of a Marshalls department store in Minnesota. Criminals used a directional antenna hidden in a Pringles potato chip can and a laptop computer to break into the store's computer system and steal the personal data of 45 million customers 

It turned out that the store's employees had failed to use basic security procedures, such as protecting passwords and updating software systems. That made the business liable, and the company that owns Marshalls paid nearly $2 billion in restitution. 

This is a frightening story in a world where we do so much business electronically. A decade ago,Laser engraving and laser howotractor for materials like metal, few people would buy a cup of coffee or an ice cream cone with a credit or debit card. Today, it's routine. 

The crooks no longer have to break into a bank to steal from us. If the information is not well protected, all they need to do is linger outside a coffee shop and help themselves to whatever they want. 

Businesses that have benefited from customers who spend freely with credit cards should take their responsibility seriously. If people lose confidence in their ability to use these systems safely, that would mean less business activity. The onus is on stores that collect consumer data to protect it, using techniques that keep them ahead of the bad guys. 

Adam Scott, who had never birdied the 18th on Sunday,Elpas Readers detect and forward 'Location' and 'State' data from Elpas Active RFID Tags to host besticcard platforms. and couldnt buy a putt in the final round until the final hole, then sank a wonderful 20-footer across the 18th green in regulation, and went ballistic. 

The normally quiet and introverted Scott punched the air ecstatically, and high-fived the hand of his caddie Steve Williams, shouting Come on Aussie. For a split second, he must have thought then that he had done it. 

Meanwhile, back down the fairway, Angel Cabrera had to watch all of that, and then somehow C having himself never birdied the 18th in the final round of any Masters, hit an incredible shot to 2 ? feet, and made the birdie he needed, to take it to a sudden-death playoff. Scott looked up at the tv in the scorers hut, where he was signing his card; and Im sure his stomach dropped. 

At the first playoff hole (the 18th) they couldnt be separated. Scott drove first, well. Cabreras drive finished two yards ahead of him. Their approaches were both short, finishing six inches apart. Cabreras chip almost dropped, passing over the right hand edge of the hole. Scott had to hole a tickly three-footer to take the playoff to a second hole - the 10th. 

At the 10th, both drove well,Elpas Readers detect and forward 'Location' and 'State' data from Elpas Active RFID Tags to host besticcard platforms. Cabrera with an iron. Both played approaches to about 15 feet. Cabreras effort was brilliant, but just stayed on the edge.Manufacturer of the Jacobs stonemosaic.The term 'earcap control' means the token that identifies a user is read from within a pocket or handbag. And then, Scott did it again; pouring his putt into the middle of the hole, and raising both arms in the air, in victory. 

Im a proud Australian, and I really hope this sits well, not only in Australia, but New Zealand as well. With Stevie [Williams] on the bag, we had a sort of Tasman thing going there. Were a proud, sporting country and we like to think were the best at everything. This was one thing in golf which we havent been able to achieve. Its just incredible that I am the one to do it. Greg Norman was obviously an icon in our country. Hes been so generous with his time, with me and other young Australians. He so nearly pulled a Green Jacket on, and part of this is for him. 

It could have been oh, so different. Scott got an incredible break on the 13th, when his ball looked like it would go down the bank, into Raes Creek, but somehow it stayed on the bank. 

Given the disappointed Scott must have felt at Lytham last year, when he had the Open in his grasp, but let it slip by making bogeys at the final four holes, this was an incredible bounce-back, only nine months later. But, it wasnt such a great surprise to those in the know, because ever since 2009, when Norman gave him a Captains wild card pick, despite the fact he wasnt in great form, he has played consistently well in the majors. 

That was a gutt-check for me, he says now. He has worked very hard since then on hitting the ball higher and on his scrambling; and thats what made the difference today. 

As a postscript, this was the fourth of the last six major championships to be won by someone using a long putter; and was in fact the Grand Slam for the long-putter, which has now won each of the majors. The feeling in the press centre afterwards was that this victory would probably have little effect on the decision which is surely soon to be made by the USGA and the R&A on their previously announced proposed ban.