General Chat

For people who profess to be researchers I find it dismally depressing that we cannot check out a few basic facts.
It was 25 not 15 million records - slight difference.
They have not been lost - the disks containing copies of certain records have been lost and not the data - there is a huge difference.
The information is NOT in the public domain - yet - but if it IS the information is encrypted or at least password protected.
It was not the fault of the government - it was the fault of a 20-something who should be sacked (I believe he has been suspended).
I could go on. However, as researchers make sure you have correct facts before this great squawking and talk of the end of the world as we know it!

I thought they said on the news that the discs hadn't been encrypted, that's why the big panic?
Tricia

I struggle to understand as to why, in todays technology, is this information on a disc or two?

I think I just said "encrypted or at least password protected" - I rest my case.

I got sent details of a dispute in my claim, along with persnal information for half a dozen others-scary-I just ignored the info but somebody else may have used it for their own gain.

What do you mean Ms Sprouts?

Ohh are we grumpy tonight Errol?

OK the 25 million was mentioned in Parliament yesterday, when David Milliband was having a go at Gordon Brown.

The 20-something handed in his resignation this morning.

They dont' know where the disks are, but they are saying they are certain they are still in the building....somewhere. Though why after 2 days they haven't found them is beyond me.

The 20 something did take it upon himself to put all the information on those disks and send them via internal post. However, bosses did know about it. The Inland Revenue did not want ALL of the details,but it would have been time consuming and very costly to separate the details they did want, so the whole lot went on those disks to save money. Is that the 20 somethings fault? I think not.

His boss was in the know, they emails have now been produced that show he was copied in on all communication, as is proper.

I agree, all the information is still on they system, the information was COPIED onto those disks, so child benefit will still be received and into the correct bank accounts. However that does not make it better, it is a serious breach of the DPA to be so lax over the security of our information, and if the said 20 something thought it was OK to send via internal mail rather than the preferred system, or personally, in his own hand, then there is a serious training issue. I bet he wouldn't be the only one to have thought that was the way things were done.

So sup your beer and cheer up grumpy lol

I understood that it went missing about two weeks ago?

Well, I thought the use of discs was sort of outdated now... especially for such important stuff.. isn't there better and more efficient ways of storing info now?

Ms Sprouts... made me chuckle LOL

Tina x

The disks are encryped and password protected according to the news, but they also demonstrated how long it would take a hacker to crack the encryption and break the password.....minutes!

are we a camel tonight then







with the hump

Thank you Teresa, you have satisfied my wonderings, I have been watching the news pages all day and haven't seen that information.

Tina x

No digs whatsoever. TW I am just grumpy because I think this story has been twisted by all parties to suit their own ends and the facts should be studied very closely.
And I haven't got a beer so you just made me even more grumpy lol

sending some cyber beer to Mr E Sheep !! Jx

TW the hacker scenario was interesting but that could also be applied to many other situations. In other words, it isn't the fact that those disks were mislaid that is the issue - it is quite easy to hack given enough information.
If I received those disks I would find it quite tricky to hack into them in some ways.
However, it is very easy to hack somebody's personal details, email account etc when they are a member of a site/message board which regularly publishes mother's maiden name, birthdays, anniversaries, dog's name, first school etc - I actually tried it and it was very easy.

Well said Teresa

Norah

You could have a point there CC

When's your birthday Errol? date and year please lol

Tina, I've had the news on TV most of the day, thanks to OH nicking the flickme and leaving it on there to watch the McClaren situation....grrrrr. It's just the way they explained it on there.

TW everyone knows my personal details already anyway because they were published on here by someone with a vendetta lol

What is really annoying Errol is this department, and other Government Departments, eg the CSA and Child Tax people insist they are always right, if they say you didn't phone as they log every call or sent a letter, then you didn't - even if you sent it recorded delivery!!
And because they allegedly didn't receive the call or letter they overpaid you, and you can then spend the next 5 years in total poverty paying it back!!

This proves these departments aren't as efficient as they claim to be but you the public are penalised.
They may say they log every call - but they're only human. This has proved to everyone, not just those of us who have dealt with these departments, that they are fallible and should perhaps double check their own records before declaring someone a liar!!

This morning an ex employee said there were sacks of mail left untouched in the corner for months!!

maggie

Yeah I know Errol and that was out of order.

I do see what you mean about sites like this, where personal details are published...and easily accessible to any hacker wishing to do so.