Am I the only one who actually feels embarrassed these days to read a breach notification that tries to reassure those notified by emphasizing that the data were password protected? Consider this excerpt from a breach notification written last month:
However, the information on the server is password protected. Accordingly, for any unauthorized person to gain access to any of the information contained on our server, they would first have to know and enter a confidential password for the computer system.
Our firm believes the equipment, which was stolen, was probably taken for the value of the hardware, rather than the information contained on it. Additionally, as set forth above, the information is password protected, and it is unlikely that unauthorized persons would be unable (sic) to break through the password security system in order to access confidential data.
From the notification letter sent by Green’s Accounting, concerning a burglary that resulted in theft of a server with unencrypted personal information.
What really scares me is the possibility they believe that a password is sufficient protection for Social Security numbers and bank account information. Their letter does not indicate that they plan to start encrypting data. Nor does it mention, for that matter, what they intend to do about their physical security to prevent another burglary. If all it took was breaking a window with a rock, well, that doesn’t sound like great physical security was in place.