Canada's biggest Identity theft?

[Gservo]

IBM has lost a hard drive containing the records of 180,000 clients of an insurance company. Details include "names, addresses, beneficiaries, social insurance numbers, pension values, pre-authorized checking information and mothers' maiden names", according to wire reports. Anything else? Oh yes, their bank account details. But is it carelessness, or is it theft? No-one knows yet, but the hard-drive was stored in a supposedly secure facility in Regina, SK, at ISM Canada, an IBM subsidiary. Local police and the RCMP, the Mounties, are investigating. Meanwhile, Co-operators General Insurance Co. has sent a letter to 180K clients this week, warning them of the possibility of identity theft. And worse could be yet to come: ISM Canada has admitted that the hard drive contains records from other clients. But it won't say who. So let the Toronto Star fill in some of the gaps: The Saskatchewan government has confirmed the missing hard drive contained many crucial files.

[wyles]

how the hell does one "lose" information like this?

I am required by law to have client information stored on password protected database in secure premises. Any loss a client suffers which is incured due to my data being accessed in any manner at all is automatically my liability.....I'll bet they pull some fast on to get out of this...

[^7_of_9]

It's Canada. They are always pulling that kind of stuff here.

[Bozo]

Surely that type of info would be encrypted ?

I would be very supicious if that data 'accidently' found it's way out.

[^7_of_9]

Being Canadian .. I doubt it was encrypted. i've seen alot of business practices and they way they keep their info. Half the time they can't even organize folders in a proper heirarchy!

Yes I am Canadian.