Nearly 70 computers missing from Los Alamos nuclear lab

U.S. officials are investigating the disappearance of 67 computers from the Los Alamos nuclear weapons lab in New Mexico, according to a nonprofit group that exposes government misconduct.

Of the missing computers, 13 were lost or stolen in the past year, including 3 taken from a scientist's home last month. A BlackBerry belonging to another worker was lost in a "sensitive foreign country," according to an internal Los Alamos Lab e-mail posted online by the Project On Government Oversight.

The group also posted a letter from the Energy Department's National Nuclear Security Administration rebuking the Los Alamos lab for treating the situation as a property management issue and not as a cybersecurity risk.

The "magnitude of exposure and risk to the laboratory is at best unclear as little data on these losses has been collected or pursued given their treatment as property management issues," the DOE memo says.

The incidents are "garnering a great deal of attention with senior management as well as NNSA (National Nuclear Security Administration) representatives," the Los Alamos Lab e-mail says.

The Associated Press reported this week that a Los Alamos spokesman said the computers may have contained names and addresses but did not have any classified information on them.

[RighteousSoutherner]

No doubt it is thieving, lying bureaucrats that are up stealing government property as usual. Their own management admits it.

[spamster21]

"...Los Alamos spokesman said the computers may have contained names and addresses but did not have any classified information on them." - riiiiight

At least the terrorists now have a list of personal whom they can call upon to bribe, torture or otherwise coerce information from.

Question: what can our government do right?

[cabowabo]

WHere did all of the commentst from yesterday go? IS CNET editing/deleting our comments???

[ferretboy88]

And people want the govt in control of everything. NOT

[youdontsay]

This is so typical of a civilian run government installation. I wonder about all of the things we don?t hear about. I will be willing to bet everyone involved still has their job. Government employees exude arrogance perpetuated by a less than average intellect, secure in the fact they cannot lose their job, much less go to jail or pay a miniscule fine. It seems to me this installation has been a treasure trove for would be spies and terrorists since its inception. It really is a rather lengthy list considering the total trustworthiness of its employees and the work that goes on there. Aren?t we officially at war with a group of global religious zealots eager to get their grubby little fingers on any information?

[Dalkorian]

Mission Accomplished. LOL.