OOPS!!!!!
How embarrassing could this have been?
"Nov. 29, 2007 American Red Cross (North Dallas) Six boxes were left unattended in a public hallway for more than six hours. The files contained personal information of current and former employees and were placed there by human resources. Names, addresses and social security numbers could have easily been stolen. The files also contained embarrassing information, including disciplinary actions, results from a drug test, a sexual harassment case; even someone's criminal record from another state."
Security breaches continue to occur and people's information continues to be compromised. Look at the type of information contained here. If you've ever donated blood at a blood drive you know they ask very personal questions from the public. Imagine how personal they could be with their employees.
Although the boxes weren't stolen they were left unattended for six hours in a public hallway. How many people passed those boxes? I know all of us would be above looking in them but there are nosy people in the world and I'm sure they wouldn't resist sneaking a peek. And what about the other Red Cross workers not authorized to view this information? I'm sure they didn't just sit there unmolested. Someone had to look in them just to find out what they were and why they were sitting there, especially if they passed those boxes more than once in their daily routine.
Yes, it is just this easy for your personal information to be compromised.
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Comments (8)
Cheryl Baumgartner12
Medical Billing/Coding/Insurance
It's very easy Beth.
Jeff you are right there is major liability on businesses now because of it. And my company has developed a program to help businesses lessen their liability by getting them in compliance with the FTC's reasonable measures.
Also many breaches are NOT reported. In some cases it's because of ongoing investigations, but most of the time it is a cover-up by the business or the breach occurs in a state that lacks "Disclosure" laws. So there is probably a significant numbe
Beth Schmillen10
Yikes! That's how easy it is for this to happen?
Chery ~ I read about that 'jet-setting identiy- thieving' couple here at APSense from you first before I saw it on the internet! Thank you for keep us so informed...
Beth
Jennifer Underwood11
Promoter
You are awesome Jeff! MUAH!
Jeff Greene8
Online Marketing Specialist/Consultant
With numbers like that, I'm betting that a large percentage of those folks don't even have a clue that their Lives have been breached... Telling folks the Truth requires Honesty, but it may also incur Liability... I just got a chilling flash of the movie "The Matrix" in my mind, time for a tea break... sheesh!
BTW-- You may use and any all of my comment below in your publications as you see fit, Cheryl and NMH... with my complements! :)
Cheryl Baumgartner12
Medical Billing/Coding/Insurance
By the way, as of today's date the number of confirmed records compromised stands at 216,405,336 according to the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. The number of records breached is actually MUCH higher. Cases where the number of affected records is unknown, or SSN's or account numbers weren't in the lost information are not included in the total.
Cheryl Baumgartner12
Medical Billing/Coding/Insurance
Part of my job is to work with business owners to try to eliminate this very type of situation. You wouldn't believe how many of them are complacent about proper handling of personal information. This is the biggest risk when it comes to security breaches. According to a white paper released by the Poneman Institute 85% of security breaches were generated internally.
Most of this type of breach can be addressed with education. Employees just don't think. But then in hindsight they see the
Jennifer Underwood11
Promoter
Jeff..human error AND just plain out human laziness!
There was a post man/woman here a year or two ago..I think a woman, any how he/she didn't feel like doing the daily delivery. So she went to a gas station and threw away everyones mail. That is bad enough...but it was thrown away in one of the worse places in town where most of the people in that neighbor hood go dumpster diving.
Your life is in so MANY hands. Chances are you will/have or will/have know someone that has been a victim of i
Jeff Greene8
Online Marketing Specialist/Consultant
It certainly says that no matter how secure we think ourselves to be, Human error haunts us... Our so- called "personal" security is largely dependant on other Human beings, and their skills, sanity,honesty and concern for others... We therefore have placed our very Lives in the hands of people we 'Trust". It is for certain, that the majority of Human beings in modern high-tech societies, simply go about their daily affairs, and NEVER give their own personal security and safety a second's thoug