VA data theft

[RedRock]

For one take on it, from a conservative columnist whose writings I've been enjoying for a while, check out

www.mullings.com/currentissue.htm

for May 24, 2006.

Oh and be sure to go to the Secret Decoder page and check out Global Expansion Gore.

[Lamron]

There is absolutely no way you can convince me that someone "just happened" to take home these files on the exact date that they were "unlucky" enough to have their house burglerized. I have no doubt that all those names and social security numbers are already being distributed to illegal aliens.

[RedRock]

Whoa, never thought of it having been intentional.

[BAT*21{usa}]

admin said:

There is absolutely no way you can convince me that someone "just happened" to take home these files on the exact date that they were "unlucky" enough to have their house burglerized. I have no doubt that all those names and social security numbers are already being distributed to illegal aliens.

the guy said he had the info @ home 2 work on a project. could this b it

[RedRock]

I've been thinking about it, and I bet it was not the first (and only) time he'd taken it home to work with, Lam, so I buy the story.

[BAT*21{usa}]

with the risk the vets r now facing & how the info could b used he should b charged with among other things treason. since it is wartime treason is punishable by execution.

[Lamron]

It gets worse. It now seems that not only was it the info for retired Vets, but also all active duty personnel including National Guard and Reserves.

Joe Davis, a spokesman for Veterans of Foreign Wars, said the VA must come clean after three weeks of "this debacle."

"This confirms the VFW's worst fear from day one -- that the loss of data encompasses every single person who did wear the uniform and does wear the uniform today," Davis said.

Here's the story:

www.cnn.com/2006/US/06/07/vets.data.ap/index.html


I still say that we'll eventually find out that this wasn't by chance.

[A_ROOKIE]

got my letter in the mail last week saying to watch out for unusal things all my information may be out there. WOOHOO for me!!! LOL

[cmsrahall]

yup... makes me fight for my country even harder... when we got crooks like these among our freinds and familys..

[Lamron]

WASHINGTON - The Navy has begun a criminal investigation after Social Security numbers and other personal data for 28,000 sailors and family members were found on a civilian Web site.

The Navy said Friday the information was in five documents and included people's names, birth dates and Social Security numbers. Navy spokesman Lt. Justin Cole would not identify the Web site or its owner, but said the information had been removed. He would not provide any details about how the information ended up on the site.

Cole said there was no indication so far that the information was used illegally, but individuals involved were being contacted and encouraged to monitor their bank accounts and credit cards.

Meanwhile, the General Accountability Office said it removed archival records from its Website this week containing some personal identifying information of fewer than 1,000 government workers. The data included some individual names and Social Security numbers.

The breach regarding the Navy comes amid a rash of government computer data thefts, including one at the Agriculture Department earlier this week in which a hacker may have obtained names, Social Security numbers and photos of 26,000 Washington-area employees and contractors.

As many as 26.5 million veterans and current military troops may have been affected by the theft of a laptop computer containing their Social Security numbers and birth dates. The computer was taken from the home of a Veterans Affairs Department employee in early May, and officials waited nearly three weeks before notifying veterans on May 22 of the theft.

As many as a half dozen federal agencies have been affected by computer data losses in recent months.

(click for full text of story)
news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060624/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/navy_data_9

Anybody still think this data wasn't stolen intentionally?

[desmo2]

Not me. I think someone is paying top dollar for this info. You know the extent of federal benefits military members and vets are eligible for??? I guarantee someone does!

[Lost_Child]

Found this on FBI website :

UPDATE –THEFT OF DATA FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

7/17/06—On June 28, 2006, the FBI recovered the laptop computer and external hard drive taken during the May 3, 2006 burglary of the residence of an employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Forensic examinations indicate that the data housed on the laptop and hard drive has not been compromised in any way.

On June 2, 2006, the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) advised that the VA is NOT initiating telephone calls or sending individual e-mail to potential identity theft victims asking them to verify personal information. If you receive a telephone call or e-mail from a person claiming to represent the VA, do not provide personal information over the telephone and do not respond to the e-mail message.

Shortly after the burglary, the IC3 also created a questionnaire for individuals to fill out and submit if they had been contacted via telephone or e-mail regarding their personal information. Due to the recovery of the equipment and the opinion that the data was undisturbed, the questionnaire has been removed from the IC3 website.

www.fbi.gov/cyberinvest/escams.htm

[Lamron]

Yeah, I noticed that since they've recovered the hardware they want to act like the problem is solved.

Forensic examinations indicate that the data housed on the laptop and hard drive has not been compromised in any way.

Ok, sheeple, everythings fine now, go back to sleep, nothing more to see here.

Anyone who's ever touched a computer knows this is nonsense. It would be very easy to copy data without leaving any evidence of it. They could only tell if something has been changed or removed.