South Carolina Department of Revenue Hacked, 3.6 Million SSNs Taken

New submitter Escape From NY writes "3.6 million Social Security numbers and 387,000 credit and debit card numbers were stolen from the SC Department of Revenue. Most of the credit and debit card numbers were encrypted — all but about 16,000. There were several different attacks, all of which originated outside the country. The first they're aware of happened on August 27, and four more happened in September. Officials first learned of the breach on October 10, and the security holes were closed on October 20. This is still a developing story, but anyone who filed a SC state tax return since 1998 my be at risk. Governor Nikki Haley today signed an executive order (PDF) to beef up the state's IT security."

Comments

why bother

[Rivalz]

obviously there is no repercussions to the vendors, administration and IT staff.

So when is someone going to swing?

[Tastecicles]

This is yet another fine example of Government security doing its usual - leaking like a sieve, in clear violation of Statutory data security requirements. I'll make a prediction right here: some anonymous H1B or lowly DEC will catch it and be fired, notwithstanding the fact that the buck should stop not there, but at the feet of the DCM or the Executive who will continue to collect seven digit salaries.

Re:So when is someone going to swing?

[penix1]

I'll play devil's advocate here...

The true fault lies with the lazy citizens. They demand every government agency put their stuff online so they don't have to get off their fat asses and actually do something in person. The fault lies in the citizens always screaming "no taxes to pay for the services I demand". The fault lies with the citizens screaming for "less government" yet expecting government to do everything for them. The fault lies with the citizens who demand lowest bids be accepted for contracts allowing inferior products and services.

Two things come to mind...

Be careful what you wish for. You just may get it!
and
You get what you pay for.

Re:So when is someone going to swing?

[Obfuscant]

The fault lies with the citizens screaming for "less government" yet expecting government to do everything for them.

Sorry, mate, but I'm one of the ones who says "less government", and I also say "stop doing things for me that I can do better myself." Trying to paint all people who call for less government with the same brush as those who feel the government should be a nanny state is a mistake, and leads to a sloppy and fatally flawed argument.

Re:So when is someone going to swing?

[penix1]

So when the crime rate goes up because of your less government you will remain silent right? When your house burns down because they closed the fire department that was closest to you you won't complain right? When the hurricane hits the east coast next week you won't have a single comment on how the government handles the response right?

Right....

Re:So when is someone going to swing?

[Obfuscant]

So when the crime rate goes up because of your less government you will remain silent right?

Unfortunately for your rant, the things you want to claim I've been calling for less of aren't. You don't know, so please stop making a fool of yourself.

When the hurricane hits the east coast next week you won't have a single comment on how the government handles the response right?

Yes, I will. I will say "those idiots who build houses on a coast that both erodes on a regular basis and is innundated by storms should not get taxpayer support in rebuilding. They chose to live there despite the dangers, they should assume the risk.

Re:So when is someone going to swing?

[lgw]

So when the crime rate goes up because of your less government you will remain silent right? When your house burns down because they closed the fire department that was closest to you you won't complain right?

Texas has no income tax yet has fire departments, police departments, schools, roads, and so on. California has the highest income tax, yet far crappier roads (seriously, the don't even light the freeways in town, and they're full of potholes), though the schools might be better (that tends to vary more between neighborhoods than between states, though).

Here's a clue: the "infrastructure" part of government only takes a very small government to do. Mostly, government takes your money to give it to supporters

When the hurricane hits the east coast next week you won't have a single comment on how the government handles the response right?

Florida has no income tax, and had great government support when 4 hurricanes hit that one year (I was living there at the time). They even had a Republican governer that stood up against insurance companies and forced the to continue offering insurance that covered hurricane damage.

You don't need a government that vacuums all possible cash form its citizens to do the good stuff government does - you only need that only to hand over vast sums of money to governments friends.

"Only" 16,000 credit/debit numbers at risk

[Andy Prough]

Well - that's reassuring! So, "only" 16,000 people potentially have their life savings at risk, or are about to have their lives turned upside down? Sure is convenient that government agencies have immunity from civil liability...