BBC loses burglar's dream data
Come on in there's nobody home
THE BBC HAS GIVEN one lucky thief the opportunity of a lifetime by becoming the latest British institution to find itself at the centre of a loss of data scandal.
The thief, who swiped a laptop and some data sticks from a BBC contractor's car, could be surprised to learn that the sticks contain the details of hundreds of children who had applied to take part in a cookery show called Gastronuts.
As if it wasn't bad enough that the data contained personal details including names addresses and phone numbers, it also gave full details of when the children, and presumably the rest of their families, would be away on holiday. Score!
The BBC has sent letters to those parents affected by the theft but it's not clear whether they will be sending someone around to turn the lights on and off and bring the mail in. µ
L'Inq
The
Times
Comments
Encryption?!?
Why the frock hasn't the government made 256-bit AES or higher encryption on portable device mandatory yet when holding peoples details? Surely it should be in data protection act.The FSA has recently dictated that all financial advisors, or anyone handling client information should be using full HDD encryption, encrypted email attachments and memory sticks. They suspect and can fine people big money if they don't.
It's time the other idiots joined the encryption club. It's not difficult, and not expensive - try TrueCrypt.
Easy Solution
Theres an easy fix to this... leave the kids at home armed only with house hold items, card board and string...