Came across a news item in the Bay Area section of the San Francisco Chronicle. The problem is that people are downloading and moving data via systems that do not encrypt before and during transfer...and keep secure upon download. If this information had been downloaded and kept disconnected with FieldSpace this data would never have been exposed.
The news item:
BERKELEY Cal issues alert about stolen laptop computer It contains 98,000 Social Security numbers -- notifications to warn of identity-theft risk - Charles Burress, Chronicle Staff WriterTuesday, March 29, 2005
A laptop computer containing Social Security numbers of more than 98,000 graduate students, graduate school applicants and other individuals was stolen two weeks ago from an unlocked office at UC Berkeley, campus officials said Monday.
There is no evidence that the personal data was retrieved or misused, said UC Berkeley spokeswoman Marie Felde.
In line with a 2002 state law requiring public notification of large data leaks, the campus is attempting to notify all those whose personal information was in the computer. Also, to address the possibility of identity theft, Cal officials are suggesting that affected people consider placing a fraud alert on their credit-reporting accounts.
The incident is the third serious data breach at UC Berkeley within the past two years and the latest of several recent compromises of personal information across the country that are prompting calls for tougher data protections.
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