DISQUS

Technology Liberation Front: Lost Laptop Follies, Part 8: ATF Loses Laptops… and Guns!

  • Steve R. · 1 year ago
    The private sector's data can be just as sensitive as government data. NetworkWorld reported on June 5, 2008 Latest 'lost' laptop holds treasure-trove of unencrypted AT&T payroll data. According to the article an AT&T email stated: ""This is to alert you to the recent theft of an AT&T employee's laptop computer that contained AT&T management compensation information, including employee names, Social Security numbers, and, in most cases, salary and bonus information."

    An AT&T manger is quoted as saying "It is pathetic that the largest telecom company in the world -- with more than 100 million customers -- doesn't encrypt basic personal information,"

    The icing on the cake, the manager goes on to say ""I receive company internal e-mails reminding me to contact our legislators about relieving the company of the burdens of regulation," he says. "What happened here shows the company isn't ready to have those burdens lifted."