Blame the Teenagers (They Erased 26.5 Million Stolen VA Records - we hope)

[IdaBriggs]

But, if you read the article, there is no proof -- only hope.

Nothing to see, nothing to see -- move along -- the teenagers probably erased it....

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060609/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/vets_data_theft

Stolen VA data may have been erased
By HOPE YEN, Associated Press Writer
Fri Jun 9, 9:24 AM ET

WASHINGTON - Stolen personal data for 26.5 million veterans and military personnel may have been erased by teenagers who sold the computer equipment, Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson said Thursday.

In testimony to Congress, Nicholson accepted responsibility for the May 3 burglary at a VA data analyst's home. He said the agency remains vulnerable to other security lapses and that changes won't happen overnight.

"This has been a painful lesson for us at VA, and I am committed to assuring that we have the people, adequately trained, policies and procedures in place to assure that this could not happen again," Nicholson told the House Government Reform Committee.

He explained that the burglary occurred in an Aspen Hill, Md., neighborhood in which there had been a pattern of thefts by young burglars who took computer equipment, wiped them clean of the data and then sold them on college campus or high schools.

(more at link)

[Hugin]

1. Umm... If "Best Buy" doesn't wipe their returns...

What makes him think "young burglars" (Agest Commment, won't get into
that here) will take the time?

[papau]

3. The GOP direct mail firm told them to erase the data before selling.

:-)

[sdfernando]

9. Even if they did erase the drive

I hardly think they would have done it to the DoD specifications. At our office we do 3 complete passes of writing zero to the entire drive before disposing of it. It takes a long time to do this, thankfully it can run unattended, but it still takes time. Time that a thief doesn't have!

[central scrutinizer]

2. Those wacky younguns!!

Whew, I'm glad that is all explained away.

[gatorboy]

4. Where are the arrests?

They can erase files but wouldn't the gov't hardware still be traceable by serial numbers? On top of that, they seem to know alot about this "Teen Crime Family" (how they operate, even where they sell the stolen goods), yet no one has been arrested, questioned?

[ComerPerro]

7. They should only charge them with stealing the computer equipment

But I am worried that this government will try to blame them for higher crimes

[global1]

5. Those Teenagers Wouldn't Happen To Be Working For The NSA.....

now - would they?

[Hubert Flottz]

6. Another Grim Fairy Tale!

From the Keystone GOP Government...

Why hasn't Nicholson and the others "in charge" been fired too????

[Options Remain]

10. simple fact

erased data is recoverable from a hard drive.

[Lerkfish]

8. wow. how convenient is that? its almost...unbelievable.

oh, wait. It is unbelievable.

[rucky]

11. *WHEW* That makes me feel SO much more secure! n/t