Grand theft identity
Moderator: MOD_nyhetsgrupper
-
Steve Hayes
Grand theft identity
And people think genealogists are bad!
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/05/ ... 9625.shtml
Congress Probes Veterans' Data Theft
Lawmakers Say Officials Waited Too Long To Disclose
Details
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 24, 2006
(CBS/AP) Veterans Affairs officials waited too long to
speak up after the theft of personal data involving
26.5 million veterans, say lawmakers from both parties
who are demanding answers about the crime.
Burglars struck the suburban Maryland home of a
department data analyst on May 3, taking a
government-owned laptop and disks containing the
names, Social Security numbers and birth dates of
veterans discharged since 1975.
The FBI was not notified until late last week, two law
enforcement officials said Tuesday. That delayed a
warning to veterans now at risk in one of the nation's
largest security breaches.
Sources also told CBS News that the VA said the loss
of data involved only "the names of hundreds of
veterans" along with personal identifiers. That
changed dramatically Friday, May 19, when the FBI
contacted local police and said "it was a much bigger
deal" in terms of the personal information lost, Orr
reports.
"This is a scandal," Senate Democratic leader Harry
Reid, D-Nev., told reporters. "The information was
kept from the American public. I would hope that the
administration is figuring out a way to find out what
happened."
Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, chairman of the Senate
Committee on Veterans Affairs, said his panel would
hold an emergency hearing Thursday and call on
Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson to testify.
"Twenty-six million people deserve answers," he said.
In a written briefing to Congress, acting VA inspector
general Jon Wooditch said the agency did not appear to
do enough to prevent the breach.
In every year since 2001, the office warned that
access controls were a "material weakness" in the
department's security of information, Wooditch wrote.
The briefing paper cited vulnerabilities related to
the operating system, passwords, and a lack of strong
detection alerts.
Matthew Burns, an agency spokesman, did not return
phone calls Tuesday. The agency has said it was
seeking to act promptly to inform veterans by setting
up a telephone hot line and a Web site.
According to Nicholson and law enforcement officials,
the thieves stole equipment containing the data. There
was no evidence the home was targeted for the data or
that the thieves even knew they had it.
The employee promptly notified the VA, which began its
own review but did not immediately tell the FBI.
Nicholson said Monday that the selected release of
information was to avoid compromising the
investigation.
The breach is second only to a hacking incident last
June at CardSystems Solutions in which the accounts of
40 million credit card holders were compromised.
Barry Steinhardt, director of the technology and
liberty program at the American Civil Liberties Union,
said the news was particularly concerning because the
data lost, Social Security numbers and birth dates,
can be used as a gateway to get "virtually anything."
And, as CBS News correspondent Cynthia Bowers reports,
many veterans fear they, and their families, could be
vulnerable.
"Somebody gets hold of your credit card you're done
unless you call it in. There ain't no way you can call
this in. Your records are just gone," a concerned
veteran told Bowers.
"It's kind of like one of the straws that's breaking
the camel's back. I hope that with all their money and
their powers that they can resolve this issue,"
another veteran said.
A letter (.pdf) is being sent to those veterans
affected. The government also set up a call center at
1-800-FED-INFO and a Web site for veterans who believe
their information has been misused.
Meanwhile, the White House sought to reassure the
nation's veterans.
"We have no indication that these have been used to
defraud the 26.5 million people whose personal
information would have been contained," White House
press secretary Tony Snow said.
An estimated 3.6 million U.S. households, or three of
every 100, reported being victims of identity theft in
the last half of 2004, a U.S. Justice Department study
found.
)MMVI CBS Broadcasting Inc.
(AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson)
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales (red tie) answers
questions at the Justice Department in Washington,
D.C., Monday, May 22, 2006.
Quote - "This is a scandal. The information was kept
from the American public. I would hope that the
administration is figuring out a way to find out what
happened." - Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev.
+++++
http://www.nbc4.com/news/9266833/detail.html
VA Secretary Angry Over Delay In Revealing Data Theft
More Than 26M Vets' Info Missing
May 24, 2006
WASHINGTON -- Under intense bipartisan fire from
Capitol Hill, Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson
said Wednesday he was outraged by his agency's
decision to keep the theft of veterans' personal data
quiet for two weeks.
Nicholson first learned of the theft late on May 16
and immediately notified the FBI, according to an
government official familiar with the timing, who
insisted on anonymity because he was not authorized to
discuss the matter.
Comment On Data Theft
The department made the theft public on May 22, nearly
three weeks after the May 3 burglary at a VA data
analyst's home.
"I will not tolerate inaction and poor judgment when
it comes to protecting our veterans," Nicholson said
in a statement to The Associated Press.
"I am outraged at the loss of this veterans' data and
the fact an employee would put it at risk by taking it
home in violation of our policies," he said. "Upon
notification, my first priority was to take all
actions necessary to protect veterans from harm."
Nicholson said he had asked the department's inspector
general to expedite an investigation to determine who
was responsible for the time delay in revealing the
burglary.
Nicholson's remarks come amid growing outrage from
lawmakers over the theft, which involved the
birthdates and Social Security numbers of 26.5 million
veterans. The VA employee had taken the information
home without authorization.
On Wednesday, Sen. Patrick Leahy said President Bush
should call Nicholson "into the woodshed" because of
the theft of personal data involving some 26.5 million
veterans. Citing past budget problems at the VA, Leahy
said Nicholson should consider resigning.
"It all adds up to a heckuva bad job for America's
veterans," said Leahy, D-Vt. "The President should
call Secretary Nicholson into the woodshed for a
serious shake-up in how the VA is run."
Burglars on May 3 took the government-owned laptop and
disks from the VA employee's suburban Maryland home.
The equipment contained information mainly on veterans
discharged since 1975.
But the FBI was not notified until late last week, two
law enforcement officials said Tuesday, a move that
delayed a warning to veterans now at risk in one of
the nation's largest security breaches.
The Senate Homeland Security Committee and the
Committee on Veterans Affairs said they would hold a
joint emergency hearing Thursday and call Nicholson to
testify. "Twenty-six million people deserve answers,"
said Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, chair of the VA panel.
Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., and Rep. John Salazar,
D-Colo., introduced legislation late Tuesday that
would require the VA to provide free credit monitoring
and reports to the affected veterans.
In a written briefing to Congress, acting VA inspector
general Jon Wooditch said the agency did not appear to
do enough to prevent the breach.
In every year since 2001, the office warned that
access controls were a "material weakness" in the
department's security of information, Wooditch wrote.
The briefing paper cited vulnerabilities related to
the operating system, passwords, and a lack of strong
detection alerts.
Matthew Burns, an agency spokesman, did not return
phone calls Tuesday. The agency has said it was
seeking to act promptly to inform veterans by setting
up a telephone hot line and a Web site.
According to Nicholson and law enforcement officials,
the thieves stole equipment containing the data. There
was no evidence the home was targeted for the data or
that the thieves even knew they had it.
The employee promptly notified the VA, which began its
own review but did not immediately tell the FBI.
Nicholson said Monday that the selected release of
information was to avoid compromising the
investigation.
The breach is second only to a hacking incident last
June at CardSystems Solutions in which the accounts of
40 million credit card holders were compromised.
Barry Steinhardt, director of the technology and
liberty program at the American Civil Liberties Union,
said the news was particularly concerning because the
data lost -- Social Security numbers and birth dates
-- can be used as a gateway to get "virtually
anything."
The White House sought to reassure the nation's
veterans.
"We have no indication that these have been used to
defraud the 26.5 million people whose personal
information would have been contained," White House
press secretary Tony Snow said.
Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press
+++++
http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4943599
Lawmaker: VA secretary should be taken 'into the
woodshed'
(Capitol Hill-AP) May 24, 2006 - The fallout over the
theft of personal data involving more than 26 million
veterans continues.
Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy says President Bush
should call Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson
"into the woodshed" because of what happened.
Lawmakers from both parties are demanding answers
about a break-in by burglars who took the sensitive
information from the suburban Maryland home of a
department data analyst.
Leahy charges that "it all adds up to a heckuva bad
job for America's veterans." He says Nicholson should
consider resigning.
Burglars on May third took a government-owned laptop
and disks containing the names, Social Security
numbers and birth dates of veterans discharged since
1975.
Sources say the FBI was not notified until late last
week. That delayed a warning to veterans now at risk
in one of the nation's largest security breaches.
Information for veterans suspecting identity theft can
be found at firstgov.gov or you can call
1-800-FED-INFO.
Posted 10:44am by Bryce Mursch
+++++
http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qst ... VlRUV5eTM=
Turning warriors into worriers
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
By JEFFREY PAGE
You don't have to be a vet to ask the questions of the
day. There are no answers yet.
Why and how did a data analyst at the Department of
Veterans Affairs take home the confidential electronic
files of almost 27 million veterans? And what were the
odds that a burglar would sneak into the analyst's
house and make off with those files? A billion to one,
maybe?
If the thieves specialize in identity theft, they hit
the mother lode of information.
They got names, Social Security numbers and birth
dates of millions of veterans who served or were
discharged after 1975. Those facts are the essential
data for opening credit accounts and getting bank
loans in the names of unsuspecting vets.
Mace Smallwood of Piscataway had another question: How
could it be that he was so meticulous about sensitive
information about his crew when he was a naval officer
from 1983 to 1996, but that Veterans Affairs could
have been so piggishly sloppy with similar
information.
"What I'm feeling is great anxiety," said Smallwood,
40, a regional manager for a shipping line. "This is a
very serious thing that happened." And with that he
offered a personal worst-case scenario.
"Let's say my company wanted to relocate me to
California and I wanted to go," he said. "I could get
there in four months. But by then an identity thief
could have ruined my chances of reestablishing myself
and of getting a house. It's a scary thought."
As far as the Department of Veterans Affairs is
concerned, Smallwood was left wondering about double
standards.
"Onboard ship, we had to safeguard everything. That
meant every last document with a man's name and Social
Security number on it. We had no breaches of
security," he said, and you were left with the obvious
conclusion: The government loses 27 million files
because one of its workers decides to take work home
with him when he's not permitted to do so.
An optimist might have taken solace in the knowledge
that Smallwood was just one person in 27 million.
"Maybe so, but the odds of exposure increase the
longer this information stays out there," he said.
So Smallwood continues shredding disposable documents
bearing his name and/or Social Security number,
removing cookies from his computer, and never -- as in
not on your life -- divulging anything about himself
over the phone.
He also ordered a credit check.
Martin Clancy was as serene as Smallwood was upset.
"I read that article thoroughly and noted that the
government started an investigation," said Clancy, 44,
who was a Navy Seal from 1984 to 1988. He joined the
Mahwah police in 1988 and is a lieutenant of
detectives.
He said he has faith in the government's ability to
determine how the analyst got the files past security
and out of the building and to locate and recover
them.
"The thing to remember is that we're all at risk [for
identity theft] nowadays. All you have to do is
register a child at school, do business with a bank or
go to the doctor's office and you're handing over a
lot of personal information," Clancy said. Like
Smallwood, he's getting a credit check.
Though he was calm about the possibility that his
information is probably among the 27 million missing
files, Clancy said everyone must avoid making
themselves vulnerable because identity thieves are
always lurking.
"We get a few new identity theft reports every day,
and we're just one police department," Clancy said.
E-mail: page@northjersey.com
+++++
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/50695.html
--
Steve Hayes
E-mail: hayesmstw@hotmail.com (see web page if it doesn't work)
Web: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7734/stevesig.htm
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7783/
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/05/ ... 9625.shtml
Congress Probes Veterans' Data Theft
Lawmakers Say Officials Waited Too Long To Disclose
Details
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 24, 2006
(CBS/AP) Veterans Affairs officials waited too long to
speak up after the theft of personal data involving
26.5 million veterans, say lawmakers from both parties
who are demanding answers about the crime.
Burglars struck the suburban Maryland home of a
department data analyst on May 3, taking a
government-owned laptop and disks containing the
names, Social Security numbers and birth dates of
veterans discharged since 1975.
The FBI was not notified until late last week, two law
enforcement officials said Tuesday. That delayed a
warning to veterans now at risk in one of the nation's
largest security breaches.
Sources also told CBS News that the VA said the loss
of data involved only "the names of hundreds of
veterans" along with personal identifiers. That
changed dramatically Friday, May 19, when the FBI
contacted local police and said "it was a much bigger
deal" in terms of the personal information lost, Orr
reports.
"This is a scandal," Senate Democratic leader Harry
Reid, D-Nev., told reporters. "The information was
kept from the American public. I would hope that the
administration is figuring out a way to find out what
happened."
Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, chairman of the Senate
Committee on Veterans Affairs, said his panel would
hold an emergency hearing Thursday and call on
Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson to testify.
"Twenty-six million people deserve answers," he said.
In a written briefing to Congress, acting VA inspector
general Jon Wooditch said the agency did not appear to
do enough to prevent the breach.
In every year since 2001, the office warned that
access controls were a "material weakness" in the
department's security of information, Wooditch wrote.
The briefing paper cited vulnerabilities related to
the operating system, passwords, and a lack of strong
detection alerts.
Matthew Burns, an agency spokesman, did not return
phone calls Tuesday. The agency has said it was
seeking to act promptly to inform veterans by setting
up a telephone hot line and a Web site.
According to Nicholson and law enforcement officials,
the thieves stole equipment containing the data. There
was no evidence the home was targeted for the data or
that the thieves even knew they had it.
The employee promptly notified the VA, which began its
own review but did not immediately tell the FBI.
Nicholson said Monday that the selected release of
information was to avoid compromising the
investigation.
The breach is second only to a hacking incident last
June at CardSystems Solutions in which the accounts of
40 million credit card holders were compromised.
Barry Steinhardt, director of the technology and
liberty program at the American Civil Liberties Union,
said the news was particularly concerning because the
data lost, Social Security numbers and birth dates,
can be used as a gateway to get "virtually anything."
And, as CBS News correspondent Cynthia Bowers reports,
many veterans fear they, and their families, could be
vulnerable.
"Somebody gets hold of your credit card you're done
unless you call it in. There ain't no way you can call
this in. Your records are just gone," a concerned
veteran told Bowers.
"It's kind of like one of the straws that's breaking
the camel's back. I hope that with all their money and
their powers that they can resolve this issue,"
another veteran said.
A letter (.pdf) is being sent to those veterans
affected. The government also set up a call center at
1-800-FED-INFO and a Web site for veterans who believe
their information has been misused.
Meanwhile, the White House sought to reassure the
nation's veterans.
"We have no indication that these have been used to
defraud the 26.5 million people whose personal
information would have been contained," White House
press secretary Tony Snow said.
An estimated 3.6 million U.S. households, or three of
every 100, reported being victims of identity theft in
the last half of 2004, a U.S. Justice Department study
found.
)MMVI CBS Broadcasting Inc.
(AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson)
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales (red tie) answers
questions at the Justice Department in Washington,
D.C., Monday, May 22, 2006.
Quote - "This is a scandal. The information was kept
from the American public. I would hope that the
administration is figuring out a way to find out what
happened." - Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev.
+++++
http://www.nbc4.com/news/9266833/detail.html
VA Secretary Angry Over Delay In Revealing Data Theft
More Than 26M Vets' Info Missing
May 24, 2006
WASHINGTON -- Under intense bipartisan fire from
Capitol Hill, Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson
said Wednesday he was outraged by his agency's
decision to keep the theft of veterans' personal data
quiet for two weeks.
Nicholson first learned of the theft late on May 16
and immediately notified the FBI, according to an
government official familiar with the timing, who
insisted on anonymity because he was not authorized to
discuss the matter.
Comment On Data Theft
The department made the theft public on May 22, nearly
three weeks after the May 3 burglary at a VA data
analyst's home.
"I will not tolerate inaction and poor judgment when
it comes to protecting our veterans," Nicholson said
in a statement to The Associated Press.
"I am outraged at the loss of this veterans' data and
the fact an employee would put it at risk by taking it
home in violation of our policies," he said. "Upon
notification, my first priority was to take all
actions necessary to protect veterans from harm."
Nicholson said he had asked the department's inspector
general to expedite an investigation to determine who
was responsible for the time delay in revealing the
burglary.
Nicholson's remarks come amid growing outrage from
lawmakers over the theft, which involved the
birthdates and Social Security numbers of 26.5 million
veterans. The VA employee had taken the information
home without authorization.
On Wednesday, Sen. Patrick Leahy said President Bush
should call Nicholson "into the woodshed" because of
the theft of personal data involving some 26.5 million
veterans. Citing past budget problems at the VA, Leahy
said Nicholson should consider resigning.
"It all adds up to a heckuva bad job for America's
veterans," said Leahy, D-Vt. "The President should
call Secretary Nicholson into the woodshed for a
serious shake-up in how the VA is run."
Burglars on May 3 took the government-owned laptop and
disks from the VA employee's suburban Maryland home.
The equipment contained information mainly on veterans
discharged since 1975.
But the FBI was not notified until late last week, two
law enforcement officials said Tuesday, a move that
delayed a warning to veterans now at risk in one of
the nation's largest security breaches.
The Senate Homeland Security Committee and the
Committee on Veterans Affairs said they would hold a
joint emergency hearing Thursday and call Nicholson to
testify. "Twenty-six million people deserve answers,"
said Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, chair of the VA panel.
Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., and Rep. John Salazar,
D-Colo., introduced legislation late Tuesday that
would require the VA to provide free credit monitoring
and reports to the affected veterans.
In a written briefing to Congress, acting VA inspector
general Jon Wooditch said the agency did not appear to
do enough to prevent the breach.
In every year since 2001, the office warned that
access controls were a "material weakness" in the
department's security of information, Wooditch wrote.
The briefing paper cited vulnerabilities related to
the operating system, passwords, and a lack of strong
detection alerts.
Matthew Burns, an agency spokesman, did not return
phone calls Tuesday. The agency has said it was
seeking to act promptly to inform veterans by setting
up a telephone hot line and a Web site.
According to Nicholson and law enforcement officials,
the thieves stole equipment containing the data. There
was no evidence the home was targeted for the data or
that the thieves even knew they had it.
The employee promptly notified the VA, which began its
own review but did not immediately tell the FBI.
Nicholson said Monday that the selected release of
information was to avoid compromising the
investigation.
The breach is second only to a hacking incident last
June at CardSystems Solutions in which the accounts of
40 million credit card holders were compromised.
Barry Steinhardt, director of the technology and
liberty program at the American Civil Liberties Union,
said the news was particularly concerning because the
data lost -- Social Security numbers and birth dates
-- can be used as a gateway to get "virtually
anything."
The White House sought to reassure the nation's
veterans.
"We have no indication that these have been used to
defraud the 26.5 million people whose personal
information would have been contained," White House
press secretary Tony Snow said.
Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press
+++++
http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4943599
Lawmaker: VA secretary should be taken 'into the
woodshed'
(Capitol Hill-AP) May 24, 2006 - The fallout over the
theft of personal data involving more than 26 million
veterans continues.
Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy says President Bush
should call Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson
"into the woodshed" because of what happened.
Lawmakers from both parties are demanding answers
about a break-in by burglars who took the sensitive
information from the suburban Maryland home of a
department data analyst.
Leahy charges that "it all adds up to a heckuva bad
job for America's veterans." He says Nicholson should
consider resigning.
Burglars on May third took a government-owned laptop
and disks containing the names, Social Security
numbers and birth dates of veterans discharged since
1975.
Sources say the FBI was not notified until late last
week. That delayed a warning to veterans now at risk
in one of the nation's largest security breaches.
Information for veterans suspecting identity theft can
be found at firstgov.gov or you can call
1-800-FED-INFO.
Posted 10:44am by Bryce Mursch
+++++
http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qst ... VlRUV5eTM=
Turning warriors into worriers
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
By JEFFREY PAGE
You don't have to be a vet to ask the questions of the
day. There are no answers yet.
Why and how did a data analyst at the Department of
Veterans Affairs take home the confidential electronic
files of almost 27 million veterans? And what were the
odds that a burglar would sneak into the analyst's
house and make off with those files? A billion to one,
maybe?
If the thieves specialize in identity theft, they hit
the mother lode of information.
They got names, Social Security numbers and birth
dates of millions of veterans who served or were
discharged after 1975. Those facts are the essential
data for opening credit accounts and getting bank
loans in the names of unsuspecting vets.
Mace Smallwood of Piscataway had another question: How
could it be that he was so meticulous about sensitive
information about his crew when he was a naval officer
from 1983 to 1996, but that Veterans Affairs could
have been so piggishly sloppy with similar
information.
"What I'm feeling is great anxiety," said Smallwood,
40, a regional manager for a shipping line. "This is a
very serious thing that happened." And with that he
offered a personal worst-case scenario.
"Let's say my company wanted to relocate me to
California and I wanted to go," he said. "I could get
there in four months. But by then an identity thief
could have ruined my chances of reestablishing myself
and of getting a house. It's a scary thought."
As far as the Department of Veterans Affairs is
concerned, Smallwood was left wondering about double
standards.
"Onboard ship, we had to safeguard everything. That
meant every last document with a man's name and Social
Security number on it. We had no breaches of
security," he said, and you were left with the obvious
conclusion: The government loses 27 million files
because one of its workers decides to take work home
with him when he's not permitted to do so.
An optimist might have taken solace in the knowledge
that Smallwood was just one person in 27 million.
"Maybe so, but the odds of exposure increase the
longer this information stays out there," he said.
So Smallwood continues shredding disposable documents
bearing his name and/or Social Security number,
removing cookies from his computer, and never -- as in
not on your life -- divulging anything about himself
over the phone.
He also ordered a credit check.
Martin Clancy was as serene as Smallwood was upset.
"I read that article thoroughly and noted that the
government started an investigation," said Clancy, 44,
who was a Navy Seal from 1984 to 1988. He joined the
Mahwah police in 1988 and is a lieutenant of
detectives.
He said he has faith in the government's ability to
determine how the analyst got the files past security
and out of the building and to locate and recover
them.
"The thing to remember is that we're all at risk [for
identity theft] nowadays. All you have to do is
register a child at school, do business with a bank or
go to the doctor's office and you're handing over a
lot of personal information," Clancy said. Like
Smallwood, he's getting a credit check.
Though he was calm about the possibility that his
information is probably among the 27 million missing
files, Clancy said everyone must avoid making
themselves vulnerable because identity thieves are
always lurking.
"We get a few new identity theft reports every day,
and we're just one police department," Clancy said.
E-mail: page@northjersey.com
+++++
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/50695.html
--
Steve Hayes
E-mail: hayesmstw@hotmail.com (see web page if it doesn't work)
Web: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7734/stevesig.htm
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7783/
-
SRJ
Re: Grand theft identity
My hubby is a veteran and falls into the year of 1975 and back. I know he is
really upset about it. What can you do, maybe a major lawsuit???
--
Sherolyn
"Steve Hayes" <hayesmstw@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:2jca725e775rlgqr8duu5bcqvstvcv4elj@4ax.com...
really upset about it. What can you do, maybe a major lawsuit???
--
Sherolyn
"Steve Hayes" <hayesmstw@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:2jca725e775rlgqr8duu5bcqvstvcv4elj@4ax.com...
And people think genealogists are bad!
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/05/ ... 9625.shtml
Congress Probes Veterans' Data Theft
Lawmakers Say Officials Waited Too Long To Disclose
Details
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 24, 2006
(CBS/AP) Veterans Affairs officials waited too long to
speak up after the theft of personal data involving
26.5 million veterans, say lawmakers from both parties
who are demanding answers about the crime.
Burglars struck the suburban Maryland home of a
department data analyst on May 3, taking a
government-owned laptop and disks containing the
names, Social Security numbers and birth dates of
veterans discharged since 1975.
The FBI was not notified until late last week, two law
enforcement officials said Tuesday. That delayed a
warning to veterans now at risk in one of the nation's
largest security breaches.
Sources also told CBS News that the VA said the loss
of data involved only "the names of hundreds of
veterans" along with personal identifiers. That
changed dramatically Friday, May 19, when the FBI
contacted local police and said "it was a much bigger
deal" in terms of the personal information lost, Orr
reports.
"This is a scandal," Senate Democratic leader Harry
Reid, D-Nev., told reporters. "The information was
kept from the American public. I would hope that the
administration is figuring out a way to find out what
happened."
Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, chairman of the Senate
Committee on Veterans Affairs, said his panel would
hold an emergency hearing Thursday and call on
Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson to testify.
"Twenty-six million people deserve answers," he said.
In a written briefing to Congress, acting VA inspector
general Jon Wooditch said the agency did not appear to
do enough to prevent the breach.
In every year since 2001, the office warned that
access controls were a "material weakness" in the
department's security of information, Wooditch wrote.
The briefing paper cited vulnerabilities related to
the operating system, passwords, and a lack of strong
detection alerts.
Matthew Burns, an agency spokesman, did not return
phone calls Tuesday. The agency has said it was
seeking to act promptly to inform veterans by setting
up a telephone hot line and a Web site.
According to Nicholson and law enforcement officials,
the thieves stole equipment containing the data. There
was no evidence the home was targeted for the data or
that the thieves even knew they had it.
The employee promptly notified the VA, which began its
own review but did not immediately tell the FBI.
Nicholson said Monday that the selected release of
information was to avoid compromising the
investigation.
The breach is second only to a hacking incident last
June at CardSystems Solutions in which the accounts of
40 million credit card holders were compromised.
Barry Steinhardt, director of the technology and
liberty program at the American Civil Liberties Union,
said the news was particularly concerning because the
data lost, Social Security numbers and birth dates,
can be used as a gateway to get "virtually anything."
And, as CBS News correspondent Cynthia Bowers reports,
many veterans fear they, and their families, could be
vulnerable.
"Somebody gets hold of your credit card you're done
unless you call it in. There ain't no way you can call
this in. Your records are just gone," a concerned
veteran told Bowers.
"It's kind of like one of the straws that's breaking
the camel's back. I hope that with all their money and
their powers that they can resolve this issue,"
another veteran said.
A letter (.pdf) is being sent to those veterans
affected. The government also set up a call center at
1-800-FED-INFO and a Web site for veterans who believe
their information has been misused.
Meanwhile, the White House sought to reassure the
nation's veterans.
"We have no indication that these have been used to
defraud the 26.5 million people whose personal
information would have been contained," White House
press secretary Tony Snow said.
An estimated 3.6 million U.S. households, or three of
every 100, reported being victims of identity theft in
the last half of 2004, a U.S. Justice Department study
found.
)MMVI CBS Broadcasting Inc.
(AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson)
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales (red tie) answers
questions at the Justice Department in Washington,
D.C., Monday, May 22, 2006.
Quote - "This is a scandal. The information was kept
from the American public. I would hope that the
administration is figuring out a way to find out what
happened." - Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev.
+++++
http://www.nbc4.com/news/9266833/detail.html
VA Secretary Angry Over Delay In Revealing Data Theft
More Than 26M Vets' Info Missing
May 24, 2006
WASHINGTON -- Under intense bipartisan fire from
Capitol Hill, Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson
said Wednesday he was outraged by his agency's
decision to keep the theft of veterans' personal data
quiet for two weeks.
Nicholson first learned of the theft late on May 16
and immediately notified the FBI, according to an
government official familiar with the timing, who
insisted on anonymity because he was not authorized to
discuss the matter.
Comment On Data Theft
The department made the theft public on May 22, nearly
three weeks after the May 3 burglary at a VA data
analyst's home.
"I will not tolerate inaction and poor judgment when
it comes to protecting our veterans," Nicholson said
in a statement to The Associated Press.
"I am outraged at the loss of this veterans' data and
the fact an employee would put it at risk by taking it
home in violation of our policies," he said. "Upon
notification, my first priority was to take all
actions necessary to protect veterans from harm."
Nicholson said he had asked the department's inspector
general to expedite an investigation to determine who
was responsible for the time delay in revealing the
burglary.
Nicholson's remarks come amid growing outrage from
lawmakers over the theft, which involved the
birthdates and Social Security numbers of 26.5 million
veterans. The VA employee had taken the information
home without authorization.
On Wednesday, Sen. Patrick Leahy said President Bush
should call Nicholson "into the woodshed" because of
the theft of personal data involving some 26.5 million
veterans. Citing past budget problems at the VA, Leahy
said Nicholson should consider resigning.
"It all adds up to a heckuva bad job for America's
veterans," said Leahy, D-Vt. "The President should
call Secretary Nicholson into the woodshed for a
serious shake-up in how the VA is run."
Burglars on May 3 took the government-owned laptop and
disks from the VA employee's suburban Maryland home.
The equipment contained information mainly on veterans
discharged since 1975.
But the FBI was not notified until late last week, two
law enforcement officials said Tuesday, a move that
delayed a warning to veterans now at risk in one of
the nation's largest security breaches.
The Senate Homeland Security Committee and the
Committee on Veterans Affairs said they would hold a
joint emergency hearing Thursday and call Nicholson to
testify. "Twenty-six million people deserve answers,"
said Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, chair of the VA panel.
Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., and Rep. John Salazar,
D-Colo., introduced legislation late Tuesday that
would require the VA to provide free credit monitoring
and reports to the affected veterans.
In a written briefing to Congress, acting VA inspector
general Jon Wooditch said the agency did not appear to
do enough to prevent the breach.
In every year since 2001, the office warned that
access controls were a "material weakness" in the
department's security of information, Wooditch wrote.
The briefing paper cited vulnerabilities related to
the operating system, passwords, and a lack of strong
detection alerts.
Matthew Burns, an agency spokesman, did not return
phone calls Tuesday. The agency has said it was
seeking to act promptly to inform veterans by setting
up a telephone hot line and a Web site.
According to Nicholson and law enforcement officials,
the thieves stole equipment containing the data. There
was no evidence the home was targeted for the data or
that the thieves even knew they had it.
The employee promptly notified the VA, which began its
own review but did not immediately tell the FBI.
Nicholson said Monday that the selected release of
information was to avoid compromising the
investigation.
The breach is second only to a hacking incident last
June at CardSystems Solutions in which the accounts of
40 million credit card holders were compromised.
Barry Steinhardt, director of the technology and
liberty program at the American Civil Liberties Union,
said the news was particularly concerning because the
data lost -- Social Security numbers and birth dates
-- can be used as a gateway to get "virtually
anything."
The White House sought to reassure the nation's
veterans.
"We have no indication that these have been used to
defraud the 26.5 million people whose personal
information would have been contained," White House
press secretary Tony Snow said.
Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press
+++++
http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4943599
Lawmaker: VA secretary should be taken 'into the
woodshed'
(Capitol Hill-AP) May 24, 2006 - The fallout over the
theft of personal data involving more than 26 million
veterans continues.
Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy says President Bush
should call Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson
"into the woodshed" because of what happened.
Lawmakers from both parties are demanding answers
about a break-in by burglars who took the sensitive
information from the suburban Maryland home of a
department data analyst.
Leahy charges that "it all adds up to a heckuva bad
job for America's veterans." He says Nicholson should
consider resigning.
Burglars on May third took a government-owned laptop
and disks containing the names, Social Security
numbers and birth dates of veterans discharged since
1975.
Sources say the FBI was not notified until late last
week. That delayed a warning to veterans now at risk
in one of the nation's largest security breaches.
Information for veterans suspecting identity theft can
be found at firstgov.gov or you can call
1-800-FED-INFO.
Posted 10:44am by Bryce Mursch
+++++
http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qst ... VlRUV5eTM=
Turning warriors into worriers
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
By JEFFREY PAGE
You don't have to be a vet to ask the questions of the
day. There are no answers yet.
Why and how did a data analyst at the Department of
Veterans Affairs take home the confidential electronic
files of almost 27 million veterans? And what were the
odds that a burglar would sneak into the analyst's
house and make off with those files? A billion to one,
maybe?
If the thieves specialize in identity theft, they hit
the mother lode of information.
They got names, Social Security numbers and birth
dates of millions of veterans who served or were
discharged after 1975. Those facts are the essential
data for opening credit accounts and getting bank
loans in the names of unsuspecting vets.
Mace Smallwood of Piscataway had another question: How
could it be that he was so meticulous about sensitive
information about his crew when he was a naval officer
from 1983 to 1996, but that Veterans Affairs could
have been so piggishly sloppy with similar
information.
"What I'm feeling is great anxiety," said Smallwood,
40, a regional manager for a shipping line. "This is a
very serious thing that happened." And with that he
offered a personal worst-case scenario.
"Let's say my company wanted to relocate me to
California and I wanted to go," he said. "I could get
there in four months. But by then an identity thief
could have ruined my chances of reestablishing myself
and of getting a house. It's a scary thought."
As far as the Department of Veterans Affairs is
concerned, Smallwood was left wondering about double
standards.
"Onboard ship, we had to safeguard everything. That
meant every last document with a man's name and Social
Security number on it. We had no breaches of
security," he said, and you were left with the obvious
conclusion: The government loses 27 million files
because one of its workers decides to take work home
with him when he's not permitted to do so.
An optimist might have taken solace in the knowledge
that Smallwood was just one person in 27 million.
"Maybe so, but the odds of exposure increase the
longer this information stays out there," he said.
So Smallwood continues shredding disposable documents
bearing his name and/or Social Security number,
removing cookies from his computer, and never -- as in
not on your life -- divulging anything about himself
over the phone.
He also ordered a credit check.
Martin Clancy was as serene as Smallwood was upset.
"I read that article thoroughly and noted that the
government started an investigation," said Clancy, 44,
who was a Navy Seal from 1984 to 1988. He joined the
Mahwah police in 1988 and is a lieutenant of
detectives.
He said he has faith in the government's ability to
determine how the analyst got the files past security
and out of the building and to locate and recover
them.
"The thing to remember is that we're all at risk [for
identity theft] nowadays. All you have to do is
register a child at school, do business with a bank or
go to the doctor's office and you're handing over a
lot of personal information," Clancy said. Like
Smallwood, he's getting a credit check.
Though he was calm about the possibility that his
information is probably among the 27 million missing
files, Clancy said everyone must avoid making
themselves vulnerable because identity thieves are
always lurking.
"We get a few new identity theft reports every day,
and we're just one police department," Clancy said.
E-mail: page@northjersey.com
+++++
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/50695.html
--
Steve Hayes
E-mail: hayesmstw@hotmail.com (see web page if it doesn't work)
Web: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7734/stevesig.htm
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7783/
-
Steve W. Jackson
Re: Grand theft identity
In article <xuadg.46863$P2.8277@tornado.ohiordc.rr.com>,
"SRJ" <srj1953@woh.rr.com> wrote:
The data lost was for vets who separated in 1975 and later, not earlier.
Chances are it excludes any vet who has not filed a disability claim
with the VA. If that describes your husband, there's no need to be
concerned about it.
I'm quite likely to be among those whose information *was* included in
what was taken. I separated in 1990 and have a service-connected
disability. I've been victimized once before in the mid-1990's, which
is why I'm adamantly opposed to the widespread use of Social Security
Numbers for a range of things where it's got no business being used. I
can't say I want to go through it again.
The very idea of filing lawsuits is completely appalling to me. So many
people think the way to get something in life is to sue for it instead
of working for it. I definitely want the data analyst in question
punished for a policy breach, and I definitely want the VA to answer for
why such vulnerabilities were not plugged sooner. But suing the
department won't fix the problem if somebody has my information and uses
it to my detriment. Instead, I'd hope that the VA would consider some
kind of program assisting me to resolve the problem if it arises.
= Steve =
--
Steve W. Jackson
Montgomery, Alabama
"SRJ" <srj1953@woh.rr.com> wrote:
My hubby is a veteran and falls into the year of 1975 and back. I know he is
really upset about it. What can you do, maybe a major lawsuit???
The data lost was for vets who separated in 1975 and later, not earlier.
Chances are it excludes any vet who has not filed a disability claim
with the VA. If that describes your husband, there's no need to be
concerned about it.
I'm quite likely to be among those whose information *was* included in
what was taken. I separated in 1990 and have a service-connected
disability. I've been victimized once before in the mid-1990's, which
is why I'm adamantly opposed to the widespread use of Social Security
Numbers for a range of things where it's got no business being used. I
can't say I want to go through it again.
The very idea of filing lawsuits is completely appalling to me. So many
people think the way to get something in life is to sue for it instead
of working for it. I definitely want the data analyst in question
punished for a policy breach, and I definitely want the VA to answer for
why such vulnerabilities were not plugged sooner. But suing the
department won't fix the problem if somebody has my information and uses
it to my detriment. Instead, I'd hope that the VA would consider some
kind of program assisting me to resolve the problem if it arises.
= Steve =
--
Steve W. Jackson
Montgomery, Alabama
-
Robert Melson
Re: Grand theft identity
In article <stevewjackson-6D1C29.16191825052006@individual.net>,
"Steve W. Jackson" <stevewjackson@charter.net> writes:
<snip>
It'd be nice, IMO, if the VA would do something more than just post a "here's
how you should handle the problem we created" note on their web-site. Instead
of telling the vet to call the cops, notify their financial institutions, post
to the credit reporting agencies, the VA should 'fess up and come up with a
program to do those things on behalf of the people whose financial identities
they've jeopardized through the actions of one or more of their employees, a
program that'd assume financial responsibility for any losses to any affected
veteran. As bad, again IMO, is the remedial actions they're taking in-house:
a couple of required "courses" on cyber security and protection of privacy
information.
Dunno about you, but I find the Department's whole ho-hum response to a very
real problem of it's creation appalling.
Bob Melson
--
Robert G. Melson | Rio Grande MicroSolutions | El Paso, Texas
-----
Under democracy one party always devotes its chief energies to trying to
prove that the other party is unfit to rule---and both commonly succeed,
and are right." ---H. L. Mencken
"Steve W. Jackson" <stevewjackson@charter.net> writes:
<snip>
why such vulnerabilities were not plugged sooner. But suing the
department won't fix the problem if somebody has my information and uses
it to my detriment. Instead, I'd hope that the VA would consider some
kind of program assisting me to resolve the problem if it arises.
= Steve =
It'd be nice, IMO, if the VA would do something more than just post a "here's
how you should handle the problem we created" note on their web-site. Instead
of telling the vet to call the cops, notify their financial institutions, post
to the credit reporting agencies, the VA should 'fess up and come up with a
program to do those things on behalf of the people whose financial identities
they've jeopardized through the actions of one or more of their employees, a
program that'd assume financial responsibility for any losses to any affected
veteran. As bad, again IMO, is the remedial actions they're taking in-house:
a couple of required "courses" on cyber security and protection of privacy
information.
Dunno about you, but I find the Department's whole ho-hum response to a very
real problem of it's creation appalling.
Bob Melson
--
Robert G. Melson | Rio Grande MicroSolutions | El Paso, Texas
-----
Under democracy one party always devotes its chief energies to trying to
prove that the other party is unfit to rule---and both commonly succeed,
and are right." ---H. L. Mencken
-
SRJ
Re: Grand theft identity
I certainly hope so for your sake as we know what a fight and all the red
tape it takes to go through getting your service connected disability. My
husband also has a service connected disability. And I am against lawsuits.
I just thought there are going to be alot of Veterans wanting accountability
somehow.
--
Sherolyn
"Steve W. Jackson" <stevewjackson@charter.net> wrote in message
news:stevewjackson-6D1C29.16191825052006@individual.net...
tape it takes to go through getting your service connected disability. My
husband also has a service connected disability. And I am against lawsuits.
I just thought there are going to be alot of Veterans wanting accountability
somehow.
--
Sherolyn
"Steve W. Jackson" <stevewjackson@charter.net> wrote in message
news:stevewjackson-6D1C29.16191825052006@individual.net...
In article <xuadg.46863$P2.8277@tornado.ohiordc.rr.com>,
"SRJ" <srj1953@woh.rr.com> wrote:
My hubby is a veteran and falls into the year of 1975 and back. I know he
is
really upset about it. What can you do, maybe a major lawsuit???
The data lost was for vets who separated in 1975 and later, not earlier.
Chances are it excludes any vet who has not filed a disability claim
with the VA. If that describes your husband, there's no need to be
concerned about it.
I'm quite likely to be among those whose information *was* included in
what was taken. I separated in 1990 and have a service-connected
disability. I've been victimized once before in the mid-1990's, which
is why I'm adamantly opposed to the widespread use of Social Security
Numbers for a range of things where it's got no business being used. I
can't say I want to go through it again.
The very idea of filing lawsuits is completely appalling to me. So many
people think the way to get something in life is to sue for it instead
of working for it. I definitely want the data analyst in question
punished for a policy breach, and I definitely want the VA to answer for
why such vulnerabilities were not plugged sooner. But suing the
department won't fix the problem if somebody has my information and uses
it to my detriment. Instead, I'd hope that the VA would consider some
kind of program assisting me to resolve the problem if it arises.
= Steve =
--
Steve W. Jackson
Montgomery, Alabama
-
Dr. Brian Leverich
Re: Grand theft identity
On 2006-05-25, SRJ <srj1953@woh.rr.com> wrote:
A lawsuit probably isn't going to go anywhere, anyway.
"Your" data aren't yours, and the VA could have posted all
that material directly to the Internet and your only recourse
would be to whimper.
It's like dirty power plants dumping mercury into the
atmosphere; they're surely killing you, but you don't
have any legal recourse. Just don't eat the tuna and
suck it up.
If you don't like this, and you shouldn't, then what you
can do is write your Congresscritters and tell them that
they should stir their worthless arses and pass legislation
that actually guarantees you some meaningful privacy
rights.
Of course, until the current crooks are voted out of office
or simply sent to jail, you'd be wasting your time. The
financial services and marketing industries, which make mucho
dinero off buying and selling your personal information, have
bought and paid for this Congress.
Vote privacy in November. Cheers, B.
I certainly hope so for your sake as we know what a fight and all the red
tape it takes to go through getting your service connected disability. My
husband also has a service connected disability. And I am against lawsuits.
I just thought there are going to be alot of Veterans wanting accountability
somehow.
A lawsuit probably isn't going to go anywhere, anyway.
"Your" data aren't yours, and the VA could have posted all
that material directly to the Internet and your only recourse
would be to whimper.
It's like dirty power plants dumping mercury into the
atmosphere; they're surely killing you, but you don't
have any legal recourse. Just don't eat the tuna and
suck it up.
If you don't like this, and you shouldn't, then what you
can do is write your Congresscritters and tell them that
they should stir their worthless arses and pass legislation
that actually guarantees you some meaningful privacy
rights.
Of course, until the current crooks are voted out of office
or simply sent to jail, you'd be wasting your time. The
financial services and marketing industries, which make mucho
dinero off buying and selling your personal information, have
bought and paid for this Congress.
Vote privacy in November. Cheers, B.
-
Steve W. Jackson
Re: Grand theft identity
In article <XZpdg.5169$921.1479@newsread4.news.pas.earthlink.net>,
melsonr@aragorn.rgmhome.net (Robert Melson) wrote:
The VA doesn't have the legal authority to make such payments. It'll
have to be done by Congress. I hope they'll come through for us,
though, if it becomes necessary.
= Steve =
--
Steve W. Jackson
Montgomery, Alabama
melsonr@aragorn.rgmhome.net (Robert Melson) wrote:
In article <stevewjackson-6D1C29.16191825052006@individual.net>,
"Steve W. Jackson" <stevewjackson@charter.net> writes:
snip
why such vulnerabilities were not plugged sooner. But suing the
department won't fix the problem if somebody has my information and uses
it to my detriment. Instead, I'd hope that the VA would consider some
kind of program assisting me to resolve the problem if it arises.
= Steve =
It'd be nice, IMO, if the VA would do something more than just post a "here's
how you should handle the problem we created" note on their web-site. Instead
of telling the vet to call the cops, notify their financial institutions, post
to the credit reporting agencies, the VA should 'fess up and come up with a
program to do those things on behalf of the people whose financial identities
they've jeopardized through the actions of one or more of their employees, a
program that'd assume financial responsibility for any losses to any affected
veteran. As bad, again IMO, is the remedial actions they're taking in-house:
a couple of required "courses" on cyber security and protection of privacy
information.
Dunno about you, but I find the Department's whole ho-hum response to a very
real problem of it's creation appalling.
Bob Melson
The VA doesn't have the legal authority to make such payments. It'll
have to be done by Congress. I hope they'll come through for us,
though, if it becomes necessary.
= Steve =
--
Steve W. Jackson
Montgomery, Alabama
-
Robert Melson
Re: Grand theft identity
In article <stevewjackson-A7F038.17083926052006@individual.net>,
"Steve W. Jackson" <stevewjackson@charter.net> writes:
Yeah, I know there's currently no statutory authority for the VA to assume the
financial burden in a case like this. So long as we're dreaming, though, why
not this one?
Given my congresscritter's response thus far to my questions about this matter -
none - I'm doubtful Congress will do anything.
Bob Melson
--
Robert G. Melson | Rio Grande MicroSolutions | El Paso, Texas
-----
Under democracy one party always devotes its chief energies to trying to
prove that the other party is unfit to rule---and both commonly succeed,
and are right." ---H. L. Mencken
"Steve W. Jackson" <stevewjackson@charter.net> writes:
In article <XZpdg.5169$921.1479@newsread4.news.pas.earthlink.net>,
melsonr@aragorn.rgmhome.net (Robert Melson) wrote:
In article <stevewjackson-6D1C29.16191825052006@individual.net>,
"Steve W. Jackson" <stevewjackson@charter.net> writes:
snip
why such vulnerabilities were not plugged sooner. But suing the
department won't fix the problem if somebody has my information and uses
it to my detriment. Instead, I'd hope that the VA would consider some
kind of program assisting me to resolve the problem if it arises.
= Steve =
It'd be nice, IMO, if the VA would do something more than just post a "here's
how you should handle the problem we created" note on their web-site. Instead
of telling the vet to call the cops, notify their financial institutions, post
to the credit reporting agencies, the VA should 'fess up and come up with a
program to do those things on behalf of the people whose financial identities
they've jeopardized through the actions of one or more of their employees, a
program that'd assume financial responsibility for any losses to any affected
veteran. As bad, again IMO, is the remedial actions they're taking in-house:
a couple of required "courses" on cyber security and protection of privacy
information.
Dunno about you, but I find the Department's whole ho-hum response to a very
real problem of it's creation appalling.
Bob Melson
The VA doesn't have the legal authority to make such payments. It'll
have to be done by Congress. I hope they'll come through for us,
though, if it becomes necessary.
= Steve =
Yeah, I know there's currently no statutory authority for the VA to assume the
financial burden in a case like this. So long as we're dreaming, though, why
not this one?
Given my congresscritter's response thus far to my questions about this matter -
none - I'm doubtful Congress will do anything.
Bob Melson
--
Robert G. Melson | Rio Grande MicroSolutions | El Paso, Texas
-----
Under democracy one party always devotes its chief energies to trying to
prove that the other party is unfit to rule---and both commonly succeed,
and are right." ---H. L. Mencken
-
SRJ
Re: Grand theft identity
was we not discussing this beforeI think I had mention something about a
lawsuit to compensate Veterans who's information was stolen.
Check out the link below.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13168240/
--
Darshea Primitives.com
Sherolyn
"Robert Melson" <melsonr@aragorn.rgmhome.net> wrote in message
news:ngMdg.8232$y4.2541@newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net...
lawsuit to compensate Veterans who's information was stolen.
Check out the link below.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13168240/
--
Darshea Primitives.com
Sherolyn
"Robert Melson" <melsonr@aragorn.rgmhome.net> wrote in message
news:ngMdg.8232$y4.2541@newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net...
In article <stevewjackson-A7F038.17083926052006@individual.net>,
"Steve W. Jackson" <stevewjackson@charter.net> writes:
In article <XZpdg.5169$921.1479@newsread4.news.pas.earthlink.net>,
melsonr@aragorn.rgmhome.net (Robert Melson) wrote:
In article <stevewjackson-6D1C29.16191825052006@individual.net>,
"Steve W. Jackson" <stevewjackson@charter.net> writes:
snip
why such vulnerabilities were not plugged sooner. But suing the
department won't fix the problem if somebody has my information and
uses
it to my detriment. Instead, I'd hope that the VA would consider some
kind of program assisting me to resolve the problem if it arises.
= Steve =
It'd be nice, IMO, if the VA would do something more than just post a
"here's
how you should handle the problem we created" note on their web-site.
Instead
of telling the vet to call the cops, notify their financial
institutions, post
to the credit reporting agencies, the VA should 'fess up and come up
with a
program to do those things on behalf of the people whose financial
identities
they've jeopardized through the actions of one or more of their
employees, a
program that'd assume financial responsibility for any losses to any
affected
veteran. As bad, again IMO, is the remedial actions they're taking
in-house:
a couple of required "courses" on cyber security and protection of
privacy
information.
Dunno about you, but I find the Department's whole ho-hum response to a
very
real problem of it's creation appalling.
Bob Melson
The VA doesn't have the legal authority to make such payments. It'll
have to be done by Congress. I hope they'll come through for us,
though, if it becomes necessary.
= Steve =
Yeah, I know there's currently no statutory authority for the VA to assume
the
financial burden in a case like this. So long as we're dreaming, though,
why
not this one?
Given my congresscritter's response thus far to my questions about this
matter -
none - I'm doubtful Congress will do anything.
Bob Melson
--
Robert G. Melson | Rio Grande MicroSolutions | El Paso, Texas
-----
Under democracy one party always devotes its chief energies to trying to
prove that the other party is unfit to rule---and both commonly succeed,
and are right." ---H. L. Mencken
-
Steve W. Jackson
Re: Grand theft identity
In article <8Vlhg.51972$mh.9036@tornado.ohiordc.rr.com>,
"SRJ" <srj1953@woh.rr.com> wrote:
I'm a Life Member of the Disabled American Veterans, and I don't doubt
that my personal details were on that stolen disc. But I will not
support DAV in this lawsuit, if they are one of the parties in the
"coalition" referred to.
There are plenty of places where our Government needs to spend money on
vets. I don't need the $1000 when there are combat-wounded vets waiting
in line at VA medical centers for a chance to see a doctor or get needed
medicines. Paying such a ridiculously large sum won't accomplish
anything except to grow the deficit. But I'm all for having them
provide compensation to any veteran who suffers as a direct result of
this situation, since I know from personal experience that it can be a
time-consuming and costly ordeal.
It's also ridiculous to prohibit VA employees from using any "sensitive"
data pending some kind of investigation. The sensitive data in question
is our Social Security numbers. If they don't use mine, I won't receive
the disability compensation to which I'm entitled. That would
effectively shut down the entire Department's operations -- even worse
for all those vets in need of care.
--
Steve W. Jackson
Montgomery, Alabama
"SRJ" <srj1953@woh.rr.com> wrote:
was we not discussing this beforeI think I had mention something about a
lawsuit to compensate Veterans who's information was stolen.
Check out the link below.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13168240/
I'm a Life Member of the Disabled American Veterans, and I don't doubt
that my personal details were on that stolen disc. But I will not
support DAV in this lawsuit, if they are one of the parties in the
"coalition" referred to.
There are plenty of places where our Government needs to spend money on
vets. I don't need the $1000 when there are combat-wounded vets waiting
in line at VA medical centers for a chance to see a doctor or get needed
medicines. Paying such a ridiculously large sum won't accomplish
anything except to grow the deficit. But I'm all for having them
provide compensation to any veteran who suffers as a direct result of
this situation, since I know from personal experience that it can be a
time-consuming and costly ordeal.
It's also ridiculous to prohibit VA employees from using any "sensitive"
data pending some kind of investigation. The sensitive data in question
is our Social Security numbers. If they don't use mine, I won't receive
the disability compensation to which I'm entitled. That would
effectively shut down the entire Department's operations -- even worse
for all those vets in need of care.
--
Steve W. Jackson
Montgomery, Alabama
-
James A. Doemer
Re: Grand theft identity
In News stevewjackson-2FCCB5.17290707062006@individual.net,, Steve W.
Jackson at stevewjackson@charter.net, typed this:
I haven't heard anything in the news about the people responsible for the
data, and their carelessness other than in the most oblque terms. The guy
that took the laptop and disks home was in direct violation of department
regulations, and federal law by doing so. I haven't heard of any planned
prosecutions, or at least the guy losing his job. I hope that there is
some accountability to be had here.
Jackson at stevewjackson@charter.net, typed this:
In article <8Vlhg.51972$mh.9036@tornado.ohiordc.rr.com>,
"SRJ" <srj1953@woh.rr.com> wrote:
was we not discussing this beforeI think I had mention something
about a lawsuit to compensate Veterans who's information was stolen.
Check out the link below.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13168240/
I'm a Life Member of the Disabled American Veterans, and I don't doubt
that my personal details were on that stolen disc. But I will not
support DAV in this lawsuit, if they are one of the parties in the
"coalition" referred to.
There are plenty of places where our Government needs to spend money
on vets. I don't need the $1000 when there are combat-wounded vets
waiting in line at VA medical centers for a chance to see a doctor or
get needed medicines. Paying such a ridiculously large sum won't
accomplish anything except to grow the deficit. But I'm all for
having them provide compensation to any veteran who suffers as a
direct result of this situation, since I know from personal
experience that it can be a time-consuming and costly ordeal.
It's also ridiculous to prohibit VA employees from using any
"sensitive" data pending some kind of investigation. The sensitive
data in question is our Social Security numbers. If they don't use
mine, I won't receive the disability compensation to which I'm
entitled. That would effectively shut down the entire Department's
operations -- even worse for all those vets in need of care.
I haven't heard anything in the news about the people responsible for the
data, and their carelessness other than in the most oblque terms. The guy
that took the laptop and disks home was in direct violation of department
regulations, and federal law by doing so. I haven't heard of any planned
prosecutions, or at least the guy losing his job. I hope that there is
some accountability to be had here.
-
Steve W. Jackson
Re: Grand theft identity
In article <L6Thg.10483$921.7664@newsread4.news.pas.earthlink.net>,
"James A. Doemer" <ckdbigtoeNOSPAM@earthlink.net> wrote:
[ snippage ]
Sadly, every time I turn on the news, there's more bad news about what
information was really on that laptop. But I completely agree that some
accountability needs to be had. I'm not one of those who thinks that
the Secretary himself should resign -- I don't see that it would serve
any purpose. But unless he gets real tough real quick on some people,
and we hear about it, I might be inclined to change that view.
= Steve =
--
Steve W. Jackson
Montgomery, Alabama
"James A. Doemer" <ckdbigtoeNOSPAM@earthlink.net> wrote:
[ snippage ]
I haven't heard anything in the news about the people responsible for the
data, and their carelessness other than in the most oblque terms. The guy
that took the laptop and disks home was in direct violation of department
regulations, and federal law by doing so. I haven't heard of any planned
prosecutions, or at least the guy losing his job. I hope that there is
some accountability to be had here.
Sadly, every time I turn on the news, there's more bad news about what
information was really on that laptop. But I completely agree that some
accountability needs to be had. I'm not one of those who thinks that
the Secretary himself should resign -- I don't see that it would serve
any purpose. But unless he gets real tough real quick on some people,
and we hear about it, I might be inclined to change that view.
= Steve =
--
Steve W. Jackson
Montgomery, Alabama
-
James A. Doemer
Re: Grand theft identity
In News stevewjackson-159B7D.16234309062006@individual.net,, Steve W.
Jackson at stevewjackson@charter.net, typed this:
I agree 100%
Jackson at stevewjackson@charter.net, typed this:
In article <L6Thg.10483$921.7664@newsread4.news.pas.earthlink.net>,
"James A. Doemer" <ckdbigtoeNOSPAM@earthlink.net> wrote:
[ snippage ]
I haven't heard anything in the news about the people responsible
for the data, and their carelessness other than in the most oblque
terms. The guy that took the laptop and disks home was in direct
violation of department regulations, and federal law by doing so. I
haven't heard of any planned prosecutions, or at least the guy
losing his job. I hope that there is some accountability to be had
here.
Sadly, every time I turn on the news, there's more bad news about what
information was really on that laptop. But I completely agree that
some accountability needs to be had. I'm not one of those who thinks
that the Secretary himself should resign -- I don't see that it would
serve any purpose. But unless he gets real tough real quick on some
people, and we hear about it, I might be inclined to change that view.
= Steve =
I agree 100%
-
SRJ
Re: Grand theft identity
I read on Yahoo that the man who took the laptop home was fired from his
job. I seriously doubt that we have heard the whole truth about what
really is going on.
--
Darshea Primitives.com
Sherolyn
"Steve W. Jackson" <stevewjackson@charter.net> wrote in message
news:stevewjackson-159B7D.16234309062006@individual.nehomet...
job. I seriously doubt that we have heard the whole truth about what
really is going on.
--
Darshea Primitives.com
Sherolyn
"Steve W. Jackson" <stevewjackson@charter.net> wrote in message
news:stevewjackson-159B7D.16234309062006@individual.nehomet...
In article <L6Thg.10483$921.7664@newsread4.news.pas.earthlink.net>,
"James A. Doemer" <ckdbigtoeNOSPAM@earthlink.net> wrote:
[ snippage ]
I haven't heard anything in the news about the people responsible for the
data, and their carelessness other than in the most oblque terms. The
guy
that took the laptop and disks home was in direct violation of department
regulations, and federal law by doing so. I haven't heard of any planned
prosecutions, or at least the guy losing his job. I hope that there is
some accountability to be had here.
Sadly, every time I turn on the news, there's more bad news about what
information was really on that laptop. But I completely agree that some
accountability needs to be had. I'm not one of those who thinks that
the Secretary himself should resign -- I don't see that it would serve
any purpose. But unless he gets real tough real quick on some people,
and we hear about it, I might be inclined to change that view.
= Steve =
--
Steve W. Jackson
Montgomery, Alabama
-
Steve Hayes
Re: Grand theft identity
On Fri, 09 Jun 2006 22:02:52 GMT, "James A. Doemer"
<ckdbigtoeNOSPAM@earthlink.net> wrote:
No one could accuse you of being disagreeable.
--
Steve Hayes
E-mail: hayesmstw@hotmail.com (see web page if it doesn't work)
Web: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7734/stevesig.htm
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7783/
<ckdbigtoeNOSPAM@earthlink.net> wrote:
I agree 100%
No one could accuse you of being disagreeable.
--
Steve Hayes
E-mail: hayesmstw@hotmail.com (see web page if it doesn't work)
Web: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7734/stevesig.htm
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7783/