Steve Contorno reports: A state database containing sensitive information, including more than 600 Social Security numbers, was available to the general public through the Virginia Department of General Services website since 2001. The department announced Friday that the site is now secure, and it is notifying affected individuals. The state does not believe the sensitive…
Category: Government Sector
Step up Social Security number protection, OIG says
Alice Lipowicz reports: The Social Security Administration should do more to protect against identity theft by increasing security controls on Social Security numbers and programs, according to two new federal audits. One of the audits targeted the millions of SSN printouts distributed by the agency each year, which have much looser security controls than Social…
NZ: WINZ staff fired for breaching client privacy
Ian Stewart reports: Five South Auckland Work and Income staff have been fired for inappropriately accessing clients’ files. The employees, all from the Manukau office, were fired for accessing information on family and friends. WINZ said there were “many breaches” by the staff and a national investigation has now been launched. Read more on Nelson…
OR: Computer stolen from state office contains private information
A computer believed to be stolen from the Department of Human Services (DHS) Gateway Center in Springfield contained private information for approximately 3,000 individuals. For many, current addresses are not available to send individual notifications by U.S. Mail. DHS is notifying involved individuals by e-mail and through this media alert that they may be at…
UK: Edinburgh Council apologizes after computer hackers access almost 9,000 residents’ debt advice records
Alastair Tibbitt reports: Computer systems at the City of Edinburgh Council have been subject to a malicious cyber attack that could have given hackers access to personal information about thousands of local residents. Letters of apology have been sent to 8745 people who have made use of council debt advice services. Users of other council…
Sources: 14 State Tax Employees Under Investigation
More on that investigation in Hawaii after an audit revealed some unspecified shenanigans involving employee access to Tax Department databases going back to 2008. Keoki Kerr reports: KITV4 News has learned 14 employees of the State Tax Department are under investigation by the State Attorney General’s office for possible criminal wrongdoing. Sources said so far,…