Laptops are a growing target of thieves and with skyrocketing laptop
usage, the number of laptop thefts will continue to rise -and so too
will the number of identity thefts. In fact, various manufacturers of GPS tracking software for laptops
point to research gathered from the FBI and large laptop insurers that
claim that one laptop is stolen every twelve seconds. And considering that not all laptop thefts are reported, that may well be a conservative number.
A few of the recent data breaches involving stolen laptops include;
Over 8000,000 Physicians alerted about possible ID theft
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) is reporting a data breach after thieves stole an employee's computer that contained an unencrypted file with the personal information of nearly every doctor who accepts Blue Cross-Blue Shield.
The data on the computer file -- which was stolen out of a parked car in Chicago -- included names, addresses, tax ID and physician identifier numbers of between 800,000 and 850,000 doctors. In many cases, their tax ID number was also their Social Security number.
Unencrypted laptop with 1 million SSNs stolen from state of Oklahoma
The Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) is notifying more than one million state residents that their personal data was stored on an unencrypted laptop that was stolen from an agency employee.
The computer file contained the names, Social Security numbers, birth dates and home addresses of Oklahoma's Human Services' clients receiving benefits from programs such as Medicaid, child care assistance, nutrition aid and disability benefits. MORE
T. Rowe Price contractor loses hard drives with data
Global investment management firm T. Rowe Price has admitted to thieves stealing two laptops containing the sensitive information of thousands of 401(k) participants from the St. Louis office of a third-party contractor. The two laptops contained sensitive information for thousands of people enrolled in 401(k) retirement plans managed by the global investment firm. The hard drives on the two pilfered machines contained the names and Social Security numbers of 35,000 individuals, the company said. MORE
Deloitte partner, principal confidential information on stolen laptop
A laptop containing the personal information of a number of Deloitte & Touche partners, principals and other employees was stolen while in possession of a contractor responsible for scanning the accounting firm's pension fund. The computer contained confidential data, including names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, and other personnel information, such as hire and termination dates. documents. MORE
Georgetown University Data Breach caused by hard drive theft
38,000 Georgetown University students, alumni and staff have been exposed to potential identity theft after an unencrypted hard drive (used for back-ups) was stolen from the Student Affairs office during the winter holiday break. MORE
Laptops remain an easy target for thieves. Government and corporate laptops have large amounts of data stored on them -and that data is viewed by thieves as the hottest commodity around -worth more than its weight in gold! Encryption of sensitive data and laptop GPS tracking software that allows laptop owners to extract data remotely once they discover the theft, could go a long way in reducing the damage to those people who have their information compromised thorugh a stolen laptop.
October's Recent Data Breaches
According to DataLossDB.org a research project aimed at documenting known and reported data loss incidents world-wide, reports the below number of identities placed at risk for identity theft, during October. UPDATED October 23rd
October 22nd Zurich Insurance 51,000
October 21st Roane State Community College 15,977
October 21st Bullitt County Public Schools 676
October 20th ChoicePoint 13,750
October 16th Halifax Health 33,000
October 14th Virginia Department of Education 103,000
October 14th California State University Los Angeles 85
October 13th County Memorial Hospital 1,700
October 9th M&T Bank 52
October 5th National Archives and Records Admin 76,000,000
October 4th Suffolk County Community College 300
October 3rd Blue Cross Blue Shield Association 187,000
These continued data breaches server to prove that we are no longer in control of our own personal data -and whether or not it is secure. It's important to do what you can to minimize your risk and blow -if you learn your information has been compromised.
Take control of your identity -before someone else does!
Whether it be reviewing your credit reports, banks statement, freezing your credit, securing passwords, or hiring professionals to proactively protect your identity -and be there to assist you in recovering it if stolen, doing so before a theft occurs is key to reducing the impact -and risk of identity theft.
A few of the recent data breaches involving stolen laptops include;
Over 8000,000 Physicians alerted about possible ID theft
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) is reporting a data breach after thieves stole an employee's computer that contained an unencrypted file with the personal information of nearly every doctor who accepts Blue Cross-Blue Shield.
The data on the computer file -- which was stolen out of a parked car in Chicago -- included names, addresses, tax ID and physician identifier numbers of between 800,000 and 850,000 doctors. In many cases, their tax ID number was also their Social Security number.
Unencrypted laptop with 1 million SSNs stolen from state of Oklahoma
The Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) is notifying more than one million state residents that their personal data was stored on an unencrypted laptop that was stolen from an agency employee.
The computer file contained the names, Social Security numbers, birth dates and home addresses of Oklahoma's Human Services' clients receiving benefits from programs such as Medicaid, child care assistance, nutrition aid and disability benefits. MORE
T. Rowe Price contractor loses hard drives with data
Global investment management firm T. Rowe Price has admitted to thieves stealing two laptops containing the sensitive information of thousands of 401(k) participants from the St. Louis office of a third-party contractor. The two laptops contained sensitive information for thousands of people enrolled in 401(k) retirement plans managed by the global investment firm. The hard drives on the two pilfered machines contained the names and Social Security numbers of 35,000 individuals, the company said. MORE
Deloitte partner, principal confidential information on stolen laptop
A laptop containing the personal information of a number of Deloitte & Touche partners, principals and other employees was stolen while in possession of a contractor responsible for scanning the accounting firm's pension fund. The computer contained confidential data, including names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, and other personnel information, such as hire and termination dates. documents. MORE
Georgetown University Data Breach caused by hard drive theft
38,000 Georgetown University students, alumni and staff have been exposed to potential identity theft after an unencrypted hard drive (used for back-ups) was stolen from the Student Affairs office during the winter holiday break. MORE
Laptops remain an easy target for thieves. Government and corporate laptops have large amounts of data stored on them -and that data is viewed by thieves as the hottest commodity around -worth more than its weight in gold! Encryption of sensitive data and laptop GPS tracking software that allows laptop owners to extract data remotely once they discover the theft, could go a long way in reducing the damage to those people who have their information compromised thorugh a stolen laptop.
October's Recent Data Breaches
According to DataLossDB.org a research project aimed at documenting known and reported data loss incidents world-wide, reports the below number of identities placed at risk for identity theft, during October. UPDATED October 23rd
October 22nd Zurich Insurance 51,000
October 21st Roane State Community College 15,977
October 21st Bullitt County Public Schools 676
October 20th ChoicePoint 13,750
October 16th Halifax Health 33,000
October 14th Virginia Department of Education 103,000
October 14th California State University Los Angeles 85
October 13th County Memorial Hospital 1,700
October 9th M&T Bank 52
October 5th National Archives and Records Admin 76,000,000
October 4th Suffolk County Community College 300
October 3rd Blue Cross Blue Shield Association 187,000
These continued data breaches server to prove that we are no longer in control of our own personal data -and whether or not it is secure. It's important to do what you can to minimize your risk and blow -if you learn your information has been compromised.
Take control of your identity -before someone else does!
Whether it be reviewing your credit reports, banks statement, freezing your credit, securing passwords, or hiring professionals to proactively protect your identity -and be there to assist you in recovering it if stolen, doing so before a theft occurs is key to reducing the impact -and risk of identity theft.
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