Another PC with veterans' data missing

Agency says desktop computer with personal data on up to 38,000 U.S. military vets has disappeared from Unisys.

The story "Another PC with veterans' data missing" published August 7, 2006 at 4:55 AM is no longer available on CNET News.

Content from Reuters expires after 30 days.

[Macsaresafer]

Makes you wonder

why IT departments complained about locking folders so much that
Microsoft killed the feature.

[bigduke]

computer secuity -- NOT

Is all data this poorly protected. My letter from VA for the first loss took a stamp, two sheets of paper, an envelope and a postman to deliver.

The envelops paper stamp and printer cost a significnt amount, that could have been used for treating reurning wounded from George's War.

At a minimum of a half dollar each, and probably more the bill is at least $13,000,000 of our tax money. And yet another comes. Not as large. But, when will the files be encrypted with the key not a part of the file system.

Isn't it time to remove politicians from running this kind of Mickey Mouse" operation?

[CancerMan2]

Our Friends The Mexicans Need These Numbers

Our friends, the good people of Mexico, as el Presidente Arbusto reminds us, need these stolen SSNs to get the American benefits they are entitled to as non-Americans.
Remember: One man's computer insecurity is another man's social security.

[startiger]

Why are they...

Keeping convidential data on something that is easy to pick up and walk away with?

People are walking off with the whole computers.

You think after the first insident,they would move all the data to their servers which are bolted to the floor.

Appearently they have yet to learn common sence when dealing with data security

[Nkully86]

Are you kidding me!?!?!

Absolutely rediculous....

I am sick of using the "when will they ever learn..." phrases to describe what's been going on with the VA lately, but this is absolutely inexcusable. There is no reason why the data on that desktop was not encrypted, I mean, did they learn a darn thing after nearly costing millions of vets their credit? I just can't believe that Nicholson would allow this to happen yet again.
<a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.techknowbizzle.com/2006/07/times-getting-even-tougher-for-vets.html" target="_newWindow">http://www.techknowbizzle.com/2006/07/times-getting-even-tougher-for-vets.html</a>

I can't imagine how vets must be feeling seeing as their VA office constantly has let them down over the past few months. For goodness sake guys, how do you think the rest of the world looks at our veterans and military system these days. If this instance doesn't teach you a lession to encrypt and not be dumb with data then I do not know what will...
<a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.essentialsecurity.com/Documents/article16.htm" target="_newWindow">http://www.essentialsecurity.com/Documents/article16.htm</a>

[marileev]

Bureaucracy

The only explanation for this inaction after 3+ months since the initial incident is bureaucracy. Those "in charge" are probably still hashing out the pros &#38; cons of data protection while Veterans face the potential ills of ID theft. Service men and women deserve better security for their IDs <a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.iwantmyess.com/?p=86" target="_newWindow">http://www.iwantmyess.com/?p=86</a>

[clamarai]

Why are they saving this to a local HD that is not encrypted?

They lost they minds...

[Nkully86]

I DONT KNOW!!!

I agree with this statement, are they seriously that clueless?

[marileev]

concur

Agreed, I guess since they're mindless, they can skirt the culpability.

[Macsaresafer]

They're not encrypted for the same reason

that Microsoft got rid of lockable folders: IT departments don't
want people encrypting files and folders. They're afraid people
will be able to hide things from them.

The problem is that most IT departments equate themselves
with the company or government department they're serving.
Anything bad for IT people must be bad for the company, so
encrypted folders are bad. Everybody loses but IT. Need more
evidence? They're asking the head of the VA to resign, but not
even talking about the people really responsible: IT.
<a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/08/08/vets.data/" target="_newWindow">http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/08/08/vets.data/</a>
index.html

[ml_ess]

Don't mention security measures!

Usually when we hear of "another" laptop theft, people's first response is that the data shouldn't have been kept on a laptop in the first place, and it shouldn't be taken out of the office.
This is a perfect example that regardless of whether data is stored on a laptop or desktop computer, it needs to be properly secured! This means using physical deterrents and following through with security software, such as Remote Laptop Security (<a class="jive-link-external" href="http://essentialsecurity.com/Documents/article18.htm" target="_newWindow">http://essentialsecurity.com/Documents/article18.htm</a>), that guards your data when locks, cables, etc. fail.