A Home Office laptop computer with a confidential
encrypted disc was sold on eBay to a member of the public who
discovered the disc when he sent the unit for repairs, say news
reports.
Police are now investigating.
Lee Bevan of
Leapfrog
Computers, Manchester, told
Sky News that the owner had brought the laptop in for repairs.
When they opened the keyboard they discovered a disc that was
marked "Home Office" and "Confidential".
A Home Office spokeswoman said the laptop was lost four years
ago. She said there was no reason to suspect the loss had led to a
data breach because the disc was encrypted.
She declined to say what the disc contained, what other data was
on the laptop or whether the laptop was reported missing, saying
she would comment further once police had finished their
investigation.
