Telecoms carrier
AT&T has admitted
that it failed to encrypt a laptop that was stolen, which
carrying the details of managers' salaries and other staff
details.
The laptop was stolen from an employee's car last month, and the
firm is now planning to strengthen its
laptop security procedures following the theft.
Along with executive salary and bonus details - which could
prove embarrassing if posted on the web - the laptop contained
Social Security numbers and other personal details which would be
useful to identity thieves.
"The fact that it is AT&T that has encountered this problem
highlights the reality that no one is immune to being hit by a data
breach that could result in identity theft," said Michael Callahan,
chief marketing officer at laptop encryption specialist CREDANT
Technologies.
"Our observations suggest that incidents like this usually
result in a significant change of policy within the company.
Although this can be interpreted as shutting the stable door after
the horse has bolted, a positive change of company policy on
encryption is always welcome," he said.