TSA Misplaces 100,000 Employee Records
A hard drive containing 100,000 employee records has been lost or stolen from the Transportation Security Administration, the agency announced on May 7. The TSA discovered that the hard drive was missing last week, on May 3. It contained records of people employed at the agency between January 2002 and August 2005. The records included name, Social Security number, date of birth, payroll information, bank account and routing information. The drive was discovered missing from a controlled area at the TSA headquarters Office of Human Capital. The agency hasn't figured out yet if the drive is still somewhere within headquarters or in the hands of a thief. TSA reported the incident to the Department of Homeland Security and law enforcement officials. The FBI is investigating, while the Secret Service is helping out with a forensic review of the TSA's equipment and facilities. TSA has begun to notify the affected individuals and is providing them with information about how to protect against identity fraud. The agency is also working out a process to purchase credit monitoring services for affected employees for one year. To find out how to claim the benefit or for links to credit reporting agencies and other information, go to the TSA's site. |
Comments (3)
1 year of credit monitoring? They have to be kidding! Like somebody sitting on this ID Theft gold mine is going to give up in 12 months.
That "compensation" is worthless!
I hope they care more about aircraft security than they obviously [don't] care about their co-workers financial security!
Posted by Disgusted! | May 9, 2007 5:54 PM
I am not only Discusted, I am Outraged! This is another good example why Outsoursing to private contractors just doesn't work! These companies get Billions of taxpayers $ and are not held responsible for anything! Look @ what has happened to the VA, not to mention the Hundreds of laptops that are unaccountable in the FBI. This country has no Security! TSA is the reason for total gridlock in our airports and as far as security it's a joke. I am a Combat Marine and I can tell you for a fact, I do not need to carry anything on an aircraft and still have access to dozens of things already on the aircraft that can be used as a weapon.
The TSA should be held accountable for this MASSIVE Security breach. 1 year of credit monitoring - BS - They should have to pay all cost for the people who's personal records that have been compromised for a minimum of 5 years and also pay for new social security numbers, bank accounts, credit cards and debit cards that have been compromised.
I also think that there need to be a Congressional investigation of TSA as their credibility of being the secutity for all our airports is more than questionable.
Posted by Thaumaturgist | May 10, 2007 1:05 PM
This is just one more example of the need for identity protection laws with real teeth, to provide remediation for those injured and massive financial disincentives for those who mishandle confidential information.
Posted by Craig Herberg | June 1, 2007 1:49 PM