Seniors' personal information in with the trash
Technorati Tag: Security Breach
Date Reported:
7/26/08
Organization:
The Senior Source
Contractor/Consultant/Branch:
None
Victims:
Senior clients
Number Affected:
"A small group"
Types of Data:
'phone lists, faxes and client sheets filled with valuable information, including "names, addresses, dates of birth and Social Security numbers."'
Breach Description:
"DALLAS - A small group of seniors who called a Dallas agency for assistance never thought their personal information would end up on the side of a road — but it did."
Reference URL:
The Dallas Morning News
Report Credit:
WFAA Channel 8 News
Response:
From the online source cited above:
DALLAS - A small group of seniors who called a Dallas agency for assistance never thought their personal information would end up on the side of a road — but it did.
Bottles, tires, and wrappers cover a vacant lot near roads in South Dallas.
[Evan] Sensitive personal information, bottles, tires, wrappers, trash, which of these shouldn't be associated with the others?
Illegal dumpers trash the property all the time, but this week, the owner of the property found a pile of black plastic bags.
"Some of these bags were open, and the information ... got my attention," said a man who identified himself only as "Grant."
[Evan] It's not clear whether or not the bags were open when they were dumped or if they were opened afterward. I would be a little more concerned if the bags were opened afterward.
He found phone lists, faxes and client sheets filled with valuable information, including "names, addresses, dates of birth and Social Security numbers."
"For people's information to be left out here, on the side of the road — that's real concerning to me. I wouldn't want my information out here," Grant said.
The bags came from The Senior Source, a non-profit organization that helps older residents in the Dallas area.
[Evan] I think most people would agree that The Senior Source's mission is noble; "The mission of The Senior Source is to improve the quality of life of older adults in the greater Dallas area." This organization is run by a group of caring people that obviously care about the people they serve. Read about The Senior Source on their "About Us" page.
The agency's executive director, Molly Bogen, told News 8 the agency has always taken measures to avoid identity theft.
They employ a shredding company to dispose sensitive documents. A cleaning crew takes care of the regular trash.
"I can't believe this has happened," Bogen said. "We will be able to pinpoint, I think closely, who did it."
A "devastated" Bogen picked up the bags on Saturday afternoon.
She said three Senior Source clients were impacted by the security breach.
"It's heartbreaking," she said. "I hope it was only those bags."
Bogen said she plans to hold a meeting on Monday to remind all employees about the agency's policy on shredding sensitive documents.
Victim Reaction:
"I can't believe it; I can't believe they did this," she said. "I don't like the idea of somebody using my Social Security. It makes me so mad, very mad." (Petra Quiroz)
Commentary:
It's sad when an non-profit organization trying to fulfill a need in the community they serve suffers an incident like this. The victims suffer, the organization suffers, and the community suffers. I think it would be a good to donate some time to a needy local non-profit organization and help them to implement better information security practices. Of course, I would have to get off my rear and I wouldn't get paid. Sheesh, what an internal struggle!
Past Breaches:
Unknown
Date Reported:7/26/08
Organization:
The Senior Source
Contractor/Consultant/Branch:
None
Victims:
Senior clients
Number Affected:
"A small group"
Types of Data:
'phone lists, faxes and client sheets filled with valuable information, including "names, addresses, dates of birth and Social Security numbers."'
Breach Description:
"DALLAS - A small group of seniors who called a Dallas agency for assistance never thought their personal information would end up on the side of a road — but it did."
Reference URL:
The Dallas Morning News
Report Credit:
WFAA Channel 8 News
Response:
From the online source cited above:
DALLAS - A small group of seniors who called a Dallas agency for assistance never thought their personal information would end up on the side of a road — but it did.
Bottles, tires, and wrappers cover a vacant lot near roads in South Dallas.
[Evan] Sensitive personal information, bottles, tires, wrappers, trash, which of these shouldn't be associated with the others?
Illegal dumpers trash the property all the time, but this week, the owner of the property found a pile of black plastic bags.
"Some of these bags were open, and the information ... got my attention," said a man who identified himself only as "Grant."
[Evan] It's not clear whether or not the bags were open when they were dumped or if they were opened afterward. I would be a little more concerned if the bags were opened afterward.
He found phone lists, faxes and client sheets filled with valuable information, including "names, addresses, dates of birth and Social Security numbers."
"For people's information to be left out here, on the side of the road — that's real concerning to me. I wouldn't want my information out here," Grant said.
The bags came from The Senior Source, a non-profit organization that helps older residents in the Dallas area.
[Evan] I think most people would agree that The Senior Source's mission is noble; "The mission of The Senior Source is to improve the quality of life of older adults in the greater Dallas area." This organization is run by a group of caring people that obviously care about the people they serve. Read about The Senior Source on their "About Us" page.
The Senior Source recently moved.
The agency's executive director, Molly Bogen, told News 8 the agency has always taken measures to avoid identity theft.
They employ a shredding company to dispose sensitive documents. A cleaning crew takes care of the regular trash.
"I can't believe this has happened," Bogen said. "We will be able to pinpoint, I think closely, who did it."
A "devastated" Bogen picked up the bags on Saturday afternoon.
She said three Senior Source clients were impacted by the security breach.
"It's heartbreaking," she said. "I hope it was only those bags."
Bogen said she plans to hold a meeting on Monday to remind all employees about the agency's policy on shredding sensitive documents.
Victim Reaction:
"I can't believe it; I can't believe they did this," she said. "I don't like the idea of somebody using my Social Security. It makes me so mad, very mad." (Petra Quiroz)
Commentary:
It's sad when an non-profit organization trying to fulfill a need in the community they serve suffers an incident like this. The victims suffer, the organization suffers, and the community suffers. I think it would be a good to donate some time to a needy local non-profit organization and help them to implement better information security practices. Of course, I would have to get off my rear and I wouldn't get paid. Sheesh, what an internal struggle!
Past Breaches:
Unknown
Posts Atom 1.0
Don't we all wish we could save the world? I'm sorry I had not had time to call you, and I appreciate you calling my office. I will try and get with you sometime this week.
Reply to this