DataBreaches.Net

Menu
  • About
  • Breach Notification Laws
  • Privacy Policy
  • Transparency Report
Menu

UK: Stolen laptops contained some health information

Posted on October 5, 2011 by Dissent

Many entities that are not primarily healthcare entities collect and store health information.  Sadly, all too many of them do not adequately protect such data.  From the Information Commissioner’s Office today:

Two organisations have taken action after they breached the Data Protection Act by failing to encrypt personal information on laptops that were later stolen, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) said today.

The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) breached the Data Protection Act in May 2011 when a laptop – containing sensitive personal data – was stolen from an employee’s home in Yorkshire. The ICO’s enquiries found that, while the laptop had encryption software installed on it, the decision on whether to encrypt individual documents was left to the employee. At the time of the theft the laptop included unencrypted personal information relating to approximately 100 individuals, including details of their membership of the union and in some cases, details of their physical or mental health.

In a similar incident, Holly Park School in Barnet breached the Act when an unencrypted laptop was stolen from an unlocked office at the school on 1 May. The device contained details of pupils’ names, addresses, exam marks and some limited information relating to their health. After investigating the breach the ICO also discovered that the school had no data protection policy in place at the time of the theft.

Acting Head of Enforcement, Sally Anne Poole said:

“The ICO’s guidance is clear: all personal information – the loss of which is liable to cause individuals damage and distress – must be encrypted. This is one of the most basic security measures and is not expensive to put in place – yet we continue to see incidents being reported to us. This type of breach is inexcusable and is putting people’s personal information at risk unnecessarily.

“We are pleased that the Association of School and College Leaders and Holly Park School have taken action to make sure the personal information they collect remains secure.”

Both organisations have now taken action to make sure the personal information they handle is protected. This includes ensuring that portable devices used to store personal data – including laptops – are appropriately encrypted. Both organisations will also introduce adequate checks to make sure their employees are following policies and procedures governing the secure use of personal information.

It shouldn’t matter what type of organization or entity collects health information.  If you collect it, protect it.

No related posts.

Category: Health Data

Post navigation

← Betfair security chief departs after data breach exposed
UK: Two laptop theft incidents result in undertakings →

Now more than ever

"Stand with Ukraine:" above raised hands. The illustration is in blue and yellow, the colors of Ukraine's flag.

Search

Browse by Categories

Recent Posts

  • Alert: Scattered Spider has added North American airline and transportation organizations to their target list
  • Northern Light Health patients affected by security incident at Compumedics; 10 healthcare entities affected
  • Privacy commissioner reviewing reported Ontario Health atHome data breach
  • CMS warns Medicare providers of fraud scheme
  • Ex-student charged with wave of cyber attacks on Sydney uni
  • Detaining Hackers Before the Crime? Tamil Nadu’s Supreme Court Approves Preventive Custody for Cyber Offenders
  • Potential Cyberattack Scrambles Columbia University Computer Systems
  • 222,000 customer records allegedly from Manhattan Parking Group leaked
  • Breaches have consequences (sometimes) (1)
  • Kansas City Man Pleads Guilty for Hacking a Non-Profit

No, You Can’t Buy a Post or an Interview

This site does not accept sponsored posts or link-back arrangements. Inquiries about either are ignored.

And despite what some trolls may try to claim: DataBreaches has never accepted even one dime to interview or report on anyone. Nor will DataBreaches ever pay anyone for data or to interview them.

Want to Get Our RSS Feed?

Grab it here:

https://databreaches.net/feed/

RSS Recent Posts on PogoWasRight.org

  • Germany Wants Apple, Google to Remove DeepSeek From Their App Stores
  • Supreme Court upholds Texas law requiring age verification on porn sites
  • Justices nix Medicaid ‘right’ to choose doctor, defunding Planned Parenthood in South Carolina
  • European Commission publishes its plan to enable more effective law enforcement access to data
  • Sacred Secrets: The Biblical Case for Privacy and Data Protection
  • Microsoft’s Departing Privacy Chief Calls for Regulator Outreach
  • Nestle USA Settles Suit Over Job-Application Medical Questions

Have a News Tip?

Email: Tips[at]DataBreaches.net

Signal: +1 516-776-7756

Contact Me

Email: info[at]databreaches.net

Mastodon: Infosec.Exchange/@PogoWasRight

Signal: +1 516-776-7756

DMCA Concern: dmca[at]databreaches.net
© 2009 – 2025 DataBreaches.net and DataBreaches LLC. All rights reserved.