Computer containing data of 540,000 people found

[Robbien]

ALBANY - A computer that went missing with the personal information of as many as 540,000 injured workers has been located, state officials said Wednesday.

The FBI and the private company that had been in possession of the state-owned personal computer would not say how or where it was found, only that it was in "a secure location."

Officials said Monday the computer was missing from a secured facility of Chicago-based CS Stars, an independent insurance brokerage. Most of the workers are New Yorkers from across the state who are in two special funds of the workers' compensation system.

CS Stars was using the computer to move the data - including names, addresses and Social Security numbers - from the state to the company's computerized claim system, according to the letter.

Mike Kachel, a spokesman for CS Stars' New York City office, said the FBI located the computer, missing since May 9, and that it appeared no one used any of the information it contained. FBI spokeswoman Cynthia Yates would not release any other information, saying the investigation was continuing. She said forensic tests were still being completed to verify the information had not been stolen.

http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/myrtlebeachonline/news/nation/15132758.htm

The computer went missing May 9th but not reported missing until July 24th. The people who hid the truth for almost two months are now asking that everyone trust them when they say no one used the info. Must be Republicans.

[WePurrsevere]

1. If they're moving it to a Workers' comp claim system there may very well

be medical info as well as "names, addresses and Social Security numbers".

There is no excuse for not letting people know their private information may be in jeopardy of being used illegally.

As it is WC in NYS is a nightmare of BS, red tapes, degradation, etc for many. The last thing folks need is their info being misused and not to be told for weeks after it should have been reported and they could have taken some kind of protective action.

There seems to be an awful lot of stolen or lost personal info going missing lately and this not telling people that their private info has gone missing or has been stolen until quite a while after the fact is like putting on a condom after you've sex with a stranger.

[Sherman A1]

2. Exactly

You have to keep a very close eye on your credit reports and statements yourself. Nobody is going to help you with this or even acknowledge that it may have been compromised. It really, really sucks, but you are on your own.

[Mnemosyne]

3. National list of breeches since 2/05:

http://www.privacyrights.org/ar/ChronDataBreaches.htm

TOTAL number of records containing sensitive personal information involved in security breaches as of 7/25/06 -

89,928,162

[Joanne98]

4. The FBI probably found it in their own building.