| Laptop theft may affect Kilbarrack residents |
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| Thursday, 21 August 2008 | |
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THE national independent organisation on ageing and older people has called on the media and State agencies to avoid overstating the loss of a laptop that contained private information so as not to cause panic amongst the elderly. Age Action Ireland was responding to last week’s disclosure that private records of people receiving unemployment and employment supports from areas, including Kilbarrack, might have fallen into the wrong hands. Following the theft of a laptop in April 2007 from the Comptroller and Auditor General’s office, it has been revealed that the personal social welfare information of over 380,000 people was stored on the computer. The information included details of people in receipt of social welfare payments from Kilbarrack in 2004 including PPS numbers and bank details. The Comptroller and Auditor General’s office said they immediately contacted those whose bank account details were put at risk and will be getting in touch with all others affected this month. It took over 15 months for the information about the stolen laptop to be made available to the public. Of those affected, over 295,000 are elderly persons receiving State pensions. Age Action Ireland has slammed the Government over the blunder. “That this theft took place in April 2007 with no evident misuse of the information contained on the laptop may mean that the nature and potential value of the information has not been recognised by the thief,” a spokesman for the organisation stated. “However, there remains the remote possibility that the information may yet be accessed and used. “This is of small comfort to the many older people and carers whose personal information and security has been compromised by this theft.” The spokesman believes that this will inevitably cause stress and upset to many older people. “This could have been avoided if the information had been properly encrypted or better still, not placed on a laptop in the first place,” he added. The Comptroller and Auditor General’s office said it regretted the loss of the laptop and the risk that the information on it could be improperly disclosed or misused. “While the data was held on password-protected computers, it was not encrypted,” a spokesperson for the office stated. “Steps have been taken to reduce the risk of any recurrence through introducing an encrypted working papers system in 2007. “We are limiting the amount of client data held on laptop computers and working within client systems where possible. “We are ensuring that accounting data transferred to it is done through encrypted media, prohibiting the transfer of personal data via email and gathering all historic data on portable media and holding it securely for destruction.” The spokesperson said the office is currently testing data encryption software for use on information not held within its electronic working papers. “This will be implemented as soon as testing is complete,” the spokesperson added. Meanwhile, Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Mary Hanafin, said she is extremely concerned that this theft of information could cause anxiety to customers, and particularly, pensioners. “I am also very concerned that this volume of information was put on a laptop,” she stated. Minister Hanafin’s department has set up a dedicated helpline for members of the public to call if they are affected or have any concerns. The Freephone helpline number 1800 690 590 is available from 9am to 6pm or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it |
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