Another 1,138 Government Laptop PCs Missing
Seems that 672 laptops formerly under the control of the Census Bureau are among the 1,138 laptop computers paid for by taxpayers and now reported lost, stolen or missing from the Commerce Department. Of the laptops missing from the Census Bureau, 246 contained "some degree of personal data" on Americans gathered from Census 2000. The Census Bureau says that data on 107 of the laptops was fully encrypted, while 139 laptops were only partially encrypted or had no encryption at all. The Census Bureau further admitted that 113 of the missing laptops were simply not returned by former employees.
The Commerce Department compiled and reported the magnitude of their missing laptop problem in response to a government-wide Congressional inquiry into missing computer equipment.
NOAA, another agency of the Commerce Department, reported 325 laptops missing from their inventory of more than 12,000 units.
"The Department takes very seriously these high instances of missing laptops, as well as potential breaches of personal identity data. This review process has clearly pointed out the flaws in the Department's inventory and accountability efforts going back many years," said Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez in a press release. "This review process has clearly pointed out the flaws in the Department's inventory and accountability efforts going back many years. We are viewing this process with the spirit of actively rooting out the problems and addressing them immediately."
Also See:
GAO Finds Commerce Computers at Risk (2001)
Another VA Computer Goes Missing
Comments
People responsible for the bookkeeping “flaws” did not keep track of who had which laptop computer therefore the “manager” is responsible and should be FIRED or brought up on charges. People in businesses either buy their own or are so responsible for losing what the company lent to them…that the “loser” must BUY the replacement computer. Either way, people do not go around losing expensive laptops because their JOB might be LOST after their paychecks are DOCKED. u lose it u bought it!