More than 650 laptops stolen since 2004: British defence ministry
July 18, 2008: LONDON — The defence ministry on Friday nearly doubled its earlier tallies of the number of its laptops stolen since 2004.
In a House of Commons written reply to a question from an opposition lawmaker, Defence Secretary Des Browne listed figures that showed 658 laptops had been stolen in the past four years, compared to the previous figure of 347 laptops.
In addition, the Ministry of Defence revealed that 89 laptops were lost since 2004, along with 121 portable USB memory sticks misplaced or stolen in the same timeframe.
Of the memory sticks, 26 of the losses occurred this year, with three of those containing information classed "secret," with a further 19 denoted "restricted."
Overall, just 32 of the 747 lost or stolen laptops in the past four years had been recovered.
Browne wrote that the updated figures were higher because a recent review had shown "anomalies" in the way the losses were reported, while a spokeswoman for the ministry said all losses of data were "investigated fully."
There has been a steady drip of revelations about lost computers in the British media since last November, when the government admitted it had lost confidential records for 25 million Britons who receive child benefit payments.
The data, on two discs that were put in the post by mistake, included names, addresses, dates of birth and bank details. The loss prompted outrage from political opponents and civil liberties campaigners.
In January, the defence ministry itself stoked fears about potential identity fraud by revealing that a laptop containing details of some 600,000 people interested in joining the armed forces had been stolen from a naval officer.
Civil servants have since been banned from taking unencrypted laptops or devices containing sensitive data out of secure premises.
Friday, July 18, 2008
More than 650 laptops stolen since 2004: British defence ministry
More than 650 laptops stolen since 2004: British defence ministry
July 18, 2008: LONDON — The defence ministry on Friday nearly doubled its earlier tallies of the number of its laptops stolen since 2004.
In a House of Commons written reply to a question from an opposition lawmaker, Defence Secretary Des Browne listed figures that showed 658 laptops had been stolen in the past four years, compared to the previous figure of 347 laptops.
In addition, the Ministry of Defence revealed that 89 laptops were lost since 2004, along with 121 portable USB memory sticks misplaced or stolen in the same timeframe.
Of the memory sticks, 26 of the losses occurred this year, with three of those containing information classed "secret," with a further 19 denoted "restricted."
Overall, just 32 of the 747 lost or stolen laptops in the past four years had been recovered.
Browne wrote that the updated figures were higher because a recent review had shown "anomalies" in the way the losses were reported, while a spokeswoman for the ministry said all losses of data were "investigated fully."
There has been a steady drip of revelations about lost computers in the British media since last November, when the government admitted it had lost confidential records for 25 million Britons who receive child benefit payments.
The data, on two discs that were put in the post by mistake, included names, addresses, dates of birth and bank details. The loss prompted outrage from political opponents and civil liberties campaigners.
In January, the defence ministry itself stoked fears about potential identity fraud by revealing that a laptop containing details of some 600,000 people interested in joining the armed forces had been stolen from a naval officer.
Civil servants have since been banned from taking unencrypted laptops or devices containing sensitive data out of secure premises.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment