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600,000 More Social Security Numbers Compromised

Posted by timothy on from the social-security-simply-isn't dept.

DoubleWhopper writes "This time it's Time Warner Inc. According to this CNN article, an 'outside storage company' is to blame for the latest significant loss of personal information. From the article: '...the tapes contained names and Social Security information on current and former Time Warner employees and some of their dependents and beneficiaries dating back to 1986.' Fortunately, the tapes are said to have no customer information, at least."

2 of 34 comments (clear)

  1. Tired old excuse.... by Psmylie · · Score: 4, Insightful
    I think its funny that they always make sure to note that it's an outside company... in my opinion, it doesn't really matter if it's an outside vendor or not, the company who owns the data is still responsible for the security of that information. Are the vendor's procedures inadequate? Well, it was your company's job to find that out before contracting with them. Were they not following procedures? Well, it's your company's job to check up on them and make sure they're following them.

    Honestly, I'd like to see all of the victims of ID theft get together and start filing class-actions against the companies that allow this sort of thing to happen. Maybe if we start hitting them in the pocketbook, these companies will start taking data security seriously.

    --

    psmylie's dictionary: Godzillion (noun) Any number large enough to destroy Tokyo

  2. Alway's Compromised by Seumas · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Hell, I consider my social security number compromised every time I'm forced to give it to a $8/hr customer service person over the phone to get my Cable, Internet, Telephone, Gas, Electricity services, rent a car, get a loan, get a bank account, apply for a job.

    Even when it's acceptable to request a social security number (an employer), you aren't promised that someone in the chain won't take your information for their own use. *shrug*