Often, the only way we find out the scope of a problem is when the media or activists file a freedom of information request. Some data revealed thanks to a Freedom of Information request made by the Scunthorpe Telegraph: Humberside Police officers and staff breached data protection laws 67 times in the past three years,…
Category: Government Sector
OR: Payroll data on 550 DOC employees found on thumb drive in Madras
Dennis Thompson Jr. reports: A thumb drive turned up in Madras containing confidential payroll information for nearly 550 Oregon Department of Corrections employees — a security breach that potentially affects as many as one in 10 DOC employees. A member of the public who came into possession of the flash drive notified the agency on…
UK: Labour forum leaks email addresses
John Leyden reports: Basic design flaws on a Labour party members forum exposed the email addresses of users to harvesting. Surfers who register through the site http://members.labour.org.uk were invited to confirm their membership, and activate their account, by clicking on the link in an email sent to a specified account. The email follows the form…
UK: Councils fined for unencrypted laptop theft
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) today served Ealing Council and Hounslow Council with monetary penalties for serious breaches of the Data Protection Act after the loss of two unencrypted laptops containing sensitive personal information. Ealing Council provides an out of hours service on behalf of both councils, which is operated by nine staff who work…
Thousands of Medi-Cal records of San Franciscans breached
Brent Begin reports: About 2,400 Medi-Cal recipients in San Francisco had their names, Social Security numbers and other identifying information breached as part of an employee dispute at Human Services Agency of San Francisco, officials said. A former city employee, considering legal action against The City after being fired from the agency that disperses welfare…
UK: Tayside Police officer admits leaking sensitive data
A police officer has admitted leaking sensitive information to her lover who then tipped off a suspect in a criminal investigation. Police constable Karen Howie, 34, who is married to another officer, has since resigned from Tayside Police. She admitted two charges of perverting the course of justice at Dundee Sheriff Court. Her co-accused, Neil…