British government missing computers

[Hum]

LONDON, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- The British government says more than 3,000 of its computer devices have been lost or stolen since 2002.

An estimated 1,774 laptops, 1,035 desktop computers, 202 hard drives, 195 memory sticks and 676 cell phones have gone missing from the government during the last seven years, The Sun reported Monday.

The Ministry of Defense and the Department for Work and Pensions -- each of which handles sensitive and confidential information -- had the worst records, the Sun said.

"It demonstrates a culture of carelessness that ministers have done nothing to curtail," said Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Paul Holmes, calling the loss "staggering."

The missing computer equipment proves the government "can't be trusted with our personal information," Holmes said.

source

[MrChainsaw]

Weird.....

:shiftyninja:

[Hum]

I blame Rappy. :shiftyninja:

[-Vivicidal-]

I find this alarming! Why aren't we at arms!??!?!

[Pupik]

Probably the employees grabbed the parts for a free upgrade.

[+John Teacake MVC]

A high percentage will have been stolen from Tubes,Taxis,Airports etc by Chavs looking to fence it to buy drugs. A percentage will have been genuinely lost. A few will have been stolen by employees. Although it is alarming I wonder how many are going unaccounted for. And then there's contractors. . . .

[Echilon]

I knew they'd lost a few, but 3000... how is that even possible? :|

[BigCheese]

I'm not really surprised what with laptops being left on trains and discs containing personal data being lost every couple of months.

[.Kompressor]

I'm sure this happens regularly and not only in Britain, other countries and as we all know it happens to financial institutions and retail companies.

This year I think we've seen 40 million creditcard details being stolen from other enterprises.

As the world becomes more digitally connected these things need better security.

Edited December 30, 2008 by .Kompressor

[WelshBluebird]

Why doesn't it surprise or shock me??

[neufuse Veteran]

Sure hope they had LoJack on those systems :whistle:

[.Kompressor]

Its way overdue for companies to encrypt their data and also secure their mobile equipment like laptops.

TechRepublic just made an article on laptop security devices/software for tracking your laptop if it gets stolen.

Open-Source option:

http://adeona.cs.washington.edu/

TechRepublic's list of security tricks/software/hardware for laptops.

http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/security/?p=685

Lojack for laptops by computrace

http://www.lojackforlaptops.com/

[Colin-uk Veteran]

I find this alarming! Why aren't we at arms!??!?!

Well, some people did form an orderly queue to complain but then most of them just got bored and walked away grumbling about the weather.

[MrChainsaw]

I'm not really surprised what with laptops being left on trains and discs containing personal data being lost every couple of months.

Work as a taxi driver, new cell phone every 3 months.

[Sethos]

That's why I love off the grid with all my personal papers under my pillow ... oh wait I'm on the Internet, that's not off the grid is it?

[.Kompressor]

That's why I love off the grid with all my personal papers under my pillow ... oh wait I'm on the Internet, that's not off the grid is it?

hmmm thanks for telling me where you keep them. lol

[Sethos]

hmmm thanks for telling me where you keep them. lol

They are guarded by an evil attack hamster with ADHD and herpes

[.Kompressor]

"Every 50 seconds a laptop goes missing in U.S. airports."

Ponemon Institute, 2008

Ponemon Institute and Dell study on lost/stolen laptops.

http://www.dell.com/downloads/global/servi...aptop_study.pdf

also, just found their study on the most trusted online retail banks for 2008 and 2007

http://www.ponemon.org/press/Ponemon_MTC_R...ing_2008_v3.pdf