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Wednesday, April 11, 2007


HOW MANY DATA BREACHES DOES IT TAKE TO START A GRASS-ROOTS MOVEMENT?


Starting with a lost disk in Georgia with the names, birth dates and Social Security numbers of 2.9 million Medicaid and children’s health care recipients that was lost in shipment by a private vendor by the name of Affiliated Computer Services, the march to disaster goes on. MSNBC reported the incident, which is yet another example of incompetent third party handling of your sensitive data. And then a couple of laptops were stolen in Chicago; again names and Social Security numbers, but no addresses. ZD Net’s April 9, article says they might know who it was, and a reward of $10,000 has been offered for information. By the way, just because it was name and SS# only doesn’t mean the crooks can’t match that to the appropriate data to complete the identity theft. So far it isn’t known if the laptops were stolen for the value of the hardware or for the personal information. But the one that worries me the most is at the University of California, San Francisco, where a hacker broke into a server and may have compromised the records of 46,000 faculty, staff and students, including their names, Social Security Numbers, bank account numbers and payroll account information. Read more on ConsumerAffairs.com. I picture some sleazy individual in a small room where his or her computer equipment is the center of attraction, and they are trying to make a quick buck by stealing and selling your sensitive data like the situation portrayed in the recent NBC Dateline shows. If you think we’ve had enough of these breaches, let your congressional representatives know you want control over your name and personal data. House of Representatives; Senate.

1 comment:

miss appropriate said...

I think what you are doing is wonderful. I have always held the opinion that one should educate one's self. However, we can't do that unless there are people like yourself that are willing to share the knowlege that you carry with you. You have probably learned a lot during your 35 years in the business you were in, but our past is a great part of who we are now, and what we are doing to help people now. You are doing something few people do...dedicating yourself to the betterment of people everywhere, through education. Thanks.