David Perera reports: Disused hard drives potentially carrying sensitive unclassified information have been scattered in unsecure locations within the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, says a new Energy Department inspector general report. The report, dated August 16 and based on work auditors conducted from January through April of this year, says the lab has lacked internal…
UK: DSG Retail customer credit agreements found in skip
Electronics retailer DSG has been found in breach of the Data Protection Act by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), following the discovery of customers’ credit agreements in or near a skip at one of the company’s PC World stores. The discovery of eight completed credit agreements containing customers’ personal and financial data was made by…
GA: Confidential files found in City Hall East sales items
Ernie Suggs reports: The Atlanta Police Department has launched an investigation into how documents containing sensitive material were left in furniture sold during a liquidation sale of merchandise at City Hall East. At least two people have reported that they found personnel documents among the items they purchased. The documents contained Social Security numbers, addresses…
Fine for Edinburgh data snooping policeman
A police officer who admitted snooping through the force computer and obtaining personal data about people has been fined £4,800. Pc Adrian Merron, 46, was due to stand trial on a total of 58 charges. But the Lothian and Borders officer admitted 10 charges and the Crown accepted not guilty pleas to the rest. Six…
Swiss Bank Data Studied by Baden-Wuerttemberg for $1 Billion in Unpaid Tax
Patrick Donahue reports: German authorities in the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg are examining tax information offered by an informant detailing what may be illicit funds stashed in Swiss accounts, though they said they won’t buy stolen data. Finance Ministry officials in the southwestern region received an offer from an informant who claimed to have information on…
UPDATE: Idaho Power says Mercer breach affected over 375,000
The Mercer Health & Benefits breach involving a backup tape lost in transit after being shipped by FedEx is one of those multi-client breaches that comes out in dribs and drabs. But if Mercer hoped to keep the total number affected under wraps, one of their clients may have spilled their beans. On August 12,…