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RandyStewart Inner circle Texas (USA) 1989 Posts |
I actually missed this in the news but just got the letter today from The Secretary of Veterans Affairs - Washington
From the letter: "In May 2006, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) learned that an employee, a data analyst, took home electronic data from VA that was stored in his home on a laptop computer and external hard drive. He was not authorized to take this data home. This behavior was in violation of VA policies. The data contained identifying information including names, social security numbers, and dates of birth for up to 26.5 million veterans and some spouses." JUST 26.5 MILLION! I sort of have mixed feelings about people taking their work home. On the one hand you had our beloved President Reagan saying "Show me an executive who works overtime and I'll show you a bad executive" and on the other hand I can understand levels of dedication and an unavoidable last minute crunch. But could you leave me out of it along with any of my personal data? Full story here: http://www.firstgov.gov/veteransinfo.shtml#happened |
Vandy Grift Inner circle Milwaukee 3504 Posts |
I got the letter last week. A buddy here at work got his today. What a joke.
"Get a life dude." -some guy in a magic forum
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RandyStewart Inner circle Texas (USA) 1989 Posts |
Hey Vandy, when I worked in Battallion, I had to go through the rigors of getting a 'secret clearance' to frickin' open mail or merely walk into a certain room! And to think some civilian has this sort of power to execute the incredibly stupid is just as you said "what a joke".
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Vandy Grift Inner circle Milwaukee 3504 Posts |
I know it. And as you pointed out, not just a few peoples info. Or a few thousand peoples info. Or even a few MILLION peoples info. But 26.5 million peoples info. Ridiculous.
"Get a life dude." -some guy in a magic forum
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Dave V Inner circle Las Vegas, NV 4824 Posts |
Not much of what I saw in government offices made much sense.
One of my managers found a website that had detailed information about building an IND (Improvised Nuclear Device). It had details that weren't supposed to be in the hands of the "general public." When he reported seeing the site, he was issued a security infraction. This same person wrote a presentation for a meeting with some nuclear big shots. When the classifier saw it he immediately took it away from him saying "You're not authorized to see this." HE WROTE IT!! Someone else had to give his presentation.
No trees were killed in the making of this message, but a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.
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Corey Harris Inner circle Kansas City, MO 1229 Posts |
Just think though. That was made publicly known. Think about how often bank security is breached and your info gets out. That is never in the news, Yet happens all the time.
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Rickfcm Veteran user lower Michigan 382 Posts |
I put my life on the line in the 60's so I could provide another avenue for someone to scam me FIRE the person and take their retirement away. Government employees never seem to be punished.
Rick |
RandyStewart Inner circle Texas (USA) 1989 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-06-15 19:53, Rickfcm wrote: I thought someone might feel this way. From the letter: What action has been taken against this employee or his supervisor? "The employee is cooperating fully with the investigation. The employee was initially placed on administrative leave, and VA is implementing procedures necessary to dismiss the employee. Also, the official responsible for the organization in which this employee served has resigned his position because of the events." Gee I've heard of some SNAFUs but 26.5 Million! |
daffydoug Eternal Order Look mom! I've got 14077 Posts |
Include me in that group. I served in the seventies. I don't know what to think about this...it's just wild.
The difficult must become easy, the easy beautiful and the beautiful magical.
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Patrick Differ Inner circle 1540 Posts |
SNAFU
Situation Normal, All Screwed Up This type of security breach was sorely underestimated at the birth of the Third Wave. If this guy is cooperating, then the rest of this stuff is fear-mongering. Don't fire him. Train him. How's that for the dissenting opinion?
Will you walk into my parlour? said the Spider to the Fly,
Tis the prettiest little parlour that ever you did spy; The way into my parlour is up a winding stair, And I've a many curious things to show when you are there. Oh no, no, said the little Fly, to ask me is in vain, For who goes up your winding stair -can ne'er come down again. |
Vandy Grift Inner circle Milwaukee 3504 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-06-22 00:49, Patrick Differ wrote: Maybe they could give some kind of Award or a cash bonus.
"Get a life dude." -some guy in a magic forum
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Jonathan Townsend Eternal Order Ossining, NY 27297 Posts |
Why was live data on a laptop outside the data storage facility?
That is my question, as that laptop may be one of MANY out there and online and open to the internet. A buddy just got the letter informing him of the personal data leakage. He was most annoyed that it took to long to get that letter as it's needed to take the next steps with credit card companies etc.
...to all the coins I've dropped here
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landmark Inner circle within a triangle 5194 Posts |
Upsetting as this is, basically none of your "personal" information has not been personal for quite a while.
Your medical records are up for grabs. Your credit history and expenditures are an open book to those who are willing to pay. Same with your legal history. Any email you send or receive from an employee account is the property of your employer. Anybody with a computer and dollars can easily obtain any of the above information. That genii was out of the bottle a while ago, thanks to "Privatization." And of course, now no warrants are required for the collection of all kinds of here-to-fore protected information, including the books you have checked out from the library. We are in a truly frightening situation that we have allowed to occur incrementally over the years. That is the real story here. It's not about some nitwit that took home the laptop from work, anymore than every plane and train crash being blamed on "human error." But I'll quiet down now as that last thread on attention management was disappeared. Jack Shalom
Click here to get Gerald Deutsch's Perverse Magic: The First Sixteen Years
All proceeds to Open Heart Magic charity. |
Vandy Grift Inner circle Milwaukee 3504 Posts |
Unfortunately that is true. It still dosen't excuse that kind of sloppiness.
Did you ever read "The End of Privacy: Personal Rights in the Surveillance Society" by Charlie Sykes. It will definately scare you.
"Get a life dude." -some guy in a magic forum
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Vandy Grift Inner circle Milwaukee 3504 Posts |
The laptop has been returned and apparently no info was downloaded from it.
http://computerworld.com/action/article.......omyId=12
"Get a life dude." -some guy in a magic forum
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