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Author Topic: Stolen laptop with personal data  (Read 742 times)

Offline Krusher

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Stolen laptop with personal data
« on: March 24, 2006, 09:10:21 AM »
We were just informed that the company that runs our 401k had a laptop stolen with our personal data on it. It was bad enough they had an unprotected system stolen, but why the hell did they have our pesonal data on a laptop in the first place?

Our names, address, ss#s, phone numbers, account balances, compensation amount all were part of the information on this idiots notebook.
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Offline Maverick

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Stolen laptop with personal data
« Reply #1 on: March 24, 2006, 01:32:21 PM »
Call your bank and and investment companies to have your accounts monitored. I don't know if there is much else that you can do.
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Offline Goomba

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Stolen laptop with personal data
« Reply #2 on: March 24, 2006, 01:40:16 PM »
If anyone suffers any financial losses, or other effects of ID theft, get a lawyer.  The company is obliged to protect that data, and can possibly be liable for failing to adequately protect it.

And, start documenting everything right now, beginning with that memo.

Good Luck  
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Offline Curval

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Stolen laptop with personal data
« Reply #3 on: March 24, 2006, 01:42:10 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by Goomba
And, start documenting everything right now, beginning with that memo.


That some good advice right there.
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Offline NattyIced

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Stolen laptop with personal data
« Reply #4 on: March 24, 2006, 01:44:53 PM »
I bet it was an islamamist. Those thieves would steal anything that could conceal a bomb.
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Offline Furball

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Stolen laptop with personal data
« Reply #5 on: March 24, 2006, 01:47:35 PM »
in Britain (britian to americans) we have a thing called the Data Protection Act, so people cannot hold your details without your permission.
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Offline Mickey1992

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Stolen laptop with personal data
« Reply #6 on: March 24, 2006, 02:32:36 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by Furball
in Britain (britian to americans) we have a thing called the Data Protection Act, so people cannot hold your details without your permission.


Um....we Americans spell it "Britain" too.
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Offline ChickenHawk

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Re: Stolen laptop with personal data
« Reply #7 on: March 24, 2006, 02:33:57 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by Krusher
We were just informed that the company that runs our 401k had a laptop stolen with our personal data on it. It was bad enough they had an unprotected system stolen, but why the hell did they have our pesonal data on a laptop in the first place?

Our names, address, ss#s, phone numbers, account balances, compensation amount all were part of the information on this idiots notebook.


This is occurring with more frequency.  Employees are taking their work home with them to finish up after hours projects or to telecommute.  

We've had two laptops in my area that have been stolen from a medical facility with gobs of patient information on them.  A clear violation of a little thing we in the US call HIPPA.  A few big fines from the government and a couple big law suits and companies will get the hint.

Any laptop that has client information on it in my company is encrypted, in case a similar situation arises.  I don't think it will be too much longer before all companies take similar steps.

Hopefully the thieves will be clueless as to how to get to your information.  Best of luck to you.
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Offline Tarmac

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Stolen laptop with personal data
« Reply #8 on: March 24, 2006, 02:37:17 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by Furball
in Britain (britian to americans) we have a thing called the Data Protection Act, so people cannot hold your details without your permission.


sweet.  that will stop laptop theives from posessing your data, as they obviously respect the law.
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Offline Skuzzy

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Stolen laptop with personal data
« Reply #9 on: March 24, 2006, 02:39:56 PM »
That should company should be sued out of existence to be so inept to allow anyone to place trusted data on a portable computer.

Protecting trusted data is a matter of discipline and process.  Anyone putting trusted data on a laptop simply means there is no process, nor discipline in place.  The IT department should be fired, in its entirety, from the top down.  Idiots.
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Offline Holden McGroin

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Stolen laptop with personal data
« Reply #10 on: March 24, 2006, 02:57:02 PM »
So far half the information isn't any good.
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Offline Goomba

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Stolen laptop with personal data
« Reply #11 on: March 24, 2006, 04:25:47 PM »
The worst part is, the protocols and procedures for securing data have been around forever.

I remember being instructed in the matter way back in the early 90's when we first started getting the things.  

Hell, I almost got hit in the security line at the airport by a bump-n-grab (Perp1 watches metal detector line, waits for laptop guy, signals Perp2, causes mild distraction while laptop travels to the secure side where Perp2 is waiting to pick 'er up and walk away non-chalant).  Spotted it happening, caught Perp2's eye and pointed directly at him as he was approaching.  He did an about face and took off, and his pal was gone when I turned around. (Remember, this was pre-911.  Today would probably be different)

If the company does have protocols that weren't followed, you could hit the guy personally, too.  Some kind of reckless disregard thing, perhaps.

I agree with Skuzz...no excuses these days.  Data Security is no secret.  And to be frivolous with financial and identification data?

He's right...bag the lot of 'em, for Monumental Stupidity.
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Offline JB66

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Stolen laptop with personal data
« Reply #12 on: March 24, 2006, 04:37:25 PM »
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Offline 2bighorn

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Stolen laptop with personal data
« Reply #13 on: March 24, 2006, 05:19:40 PM »
If Boeing can do that, why not others.

Funny thing is my last contract was over 8 years ago and they still had my SSN, bank account #, etc, all unencrypted on some stupid laptop.

All I got was 1 year free credit monitoring....
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Offline Furball

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Stolen laptop with personal data
« Reply #14 on: March 24, 2006, 06:31:39 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by Tarmac
sweet.  that will stop laptop theives from posessing your data, as they obviously respect the law.


Quote
Originally posted by Krusher
It was bad enough they had an unprotected system stolen, but why the hell did they have our pesonal data on a laptop in the first place?


Sorry, i wasnt trying to be a smartarse or anything, i was just referring to the above.  As far as i know they do not have something like this in America.  (why so much junk email originates from there)

Data Protection Act
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