Prof teams with TV station to make holiday brighter for retiree

Professor Jonathan S. Weissman worked with WHTM-TV Channel 27 News to help a retiree recover $12,000 lost to hacking.

Jonathan S. Weissman is a full professor at Finger Lakes Community College and coordinator of the Networking and Cybersecurity degree program. He also works as a principal lecturer at Rochester Institute of Technology.

Media across the region often contact him to help explain reports of hacking and cybercrimes. He recently teamed up with WHTM-TV Channel 27 News in Harrisburg, Pa., to examine the case of a man whose phone and bank account were both hacked. The man, a retiree, lost $12,000, and it looked as though he might not be able to get it back.

Not long after, the bank  reimbursed the man, and the TV reporter credits Weissman’s expertise.

“The guy is thrilled – going to have a wonderful Christmas now. I’m sure you saying their security was inadequate sealed the deal. Hard to go against that,” he wrote to Weissman.

You can see Channel 27’s initial report and the follow-up in the videos below and learn more about Weissman on LinkedIn.