http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2006/05/26/va-computer-security-sucks/ Protect yourself from government gaffes, bureaucratic blunders and incumbent incompetence Fri, 30 Jul 2010 18:19:36 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2006/05/26/va-computer-security-sucks/#comment-13980 Two arrested in theft of VA laptop - Homeland Stupidity Sun, 06 Aug 2006 07:32:35 +0000 http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2006/05/26/va-computer-security-sucks/#comment-13980 [...] Authorities said that the theft, which highlighted poor computer security practices at the Department of Veterans Affairs, appeared to be random and unconnected to the data on the laptop. Police depicted the suspects as ordinary thieves who are responsible for a string of other local burglaries but did not target the laptop and hard drive, which police say they stole along with jewelry and cash. [...] [...] Authorities said that the theft, which highlighted poor computer security practices at the Department of Veterans Affairs, appeared to be random and unconnected to the data on the laptop. Police depicted the suspects as ordinary thieves who are responsible for a string of other local burglaries but did not target the laptop and hard drive, which police say they stole along with jewelry and cash. [...]

]]> http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2006/05/26/va-computer-security-sucks/#comment-12545 Stolen VA laptop recovered; no identity theft reported - Homeland Stupidity Thu, 29 Jun 2006 15:56:25 +0000 http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2006/05/26/va-computer-security-sucks/#comment-12545 [...] The House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs is holding a hearing Thursday morning on the computer security breach. The hearing on the state of computer security at the Veterans Administration is likely to discover that government computer security really sucks. Filed under: Politics, Homeland Security, Privacy, Military [...] [...] The House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs is holding a hearing Thursday morning on the computer security breach. The hearing on the state of computer security at the Veterans Administration is likely to discover that government computer security really sucks. Filed under: Politics, Homeland Security, Privacy, Military [...]

]]> http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2006/05/26/va-computer-security-sucks/#comment-11640 Stand-down at VA to tighten laptop security - Homeland Stupidity Sun, 11 Jun 2006 21:44:21 +0000 http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2006/05/26/va-computer-security-sucks/#comment-11640 [...] Security at the VA is a well-worn joke: In 2003, tests by staff members in the VA Inspector General’s office demonstrated that a hacker could gain access to veterans’ protected medical information from outside the VA network. Last year, internal reviews found that access controls were not consistently applied at dozens of data centers, medical centers and regional offices. Recommendations included ensuring that background checks are performed on VA and contract workers, restricting off-duty workers’ access to sensitive information and providing annual security awareness training for employees. [...] [...] Security at the VA is a well-worn joke: In 2003, tests by staff members in the VA Inspector General’s office demonstrated that a hacker could gain access to veterans’ protected medical information from outside the VA network. Last year, internal reviews found that access controls were not consistently applied at dozens of data centers, medical centers and regional offices. Recommendations included ensuring that background checks are performed on VA and contract workers, restricting off-duty workers’ access to sensitive information and providing annual security awareness training for employees. [...]

]]> http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2006/05/26/va-computer-security-sucks/#comment-11433 Active duty military data on stolen VA laptop - Homeland Stupidity Thu, 08 Jun 2006 05:07:28 +0000 http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2006/05/26/va-computer-security-sucks/#comment-11433 [...] Former Republican National Committee Chairman and current Veterans Administration Secretary Jim Nicholson may have been “mad as hell” over the theft of 26.5 million records containing sensitive personal information during testimony before Congress, but he shouldn’t have been surprised when the security disaster occurred, given that his organization’s lax security has been a matter of public knowledge since shortly after he began his tenure. [...] [...] Former Republican National Committee Chairman and current Veterans Administration Secretary Jim Nicholson may have been “mad as hell” over the theft of 26.5 million records containing sensitive personal information during testimony before Congress, but he shouldn’t have been surprised when the security disaster occurred, given that his organization’s lax security has been a matter of public knowledge since shortly after he began his tenure. [...]

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