Security Bullet In
Communiques from the security front, sir
Wednesday 6 August 2008, 2:59 PM
TSA finds lost laptop - in office where it was lost
The US Transportation Security Administration has found a laptop that was reported missing more than a week ago. It was found in the same office it was lost from.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the laptop contained details of 33,000 travellers involved in a fast pass programme called 'Clear', and belonged to a consultant with Verified Identity Pass, which runs the programme.
"The computer held names, addresses and birthdates for people applying to the program, as well as driver's license, passport and green card information," said the San Francisco Chronicle.
Information had been downloaded from an encrypted database onto the unencrypted laptop, which was then reported lost on July 26. The laptop turned up again in the same office, which is kept locked, on August 5.
Was the laptop mislaid, or did someone with a key sneak into the office, remove the laptop, copy the contents, and return it? I think the former is more likely (he says, trying to keep a straight face).
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the laptop contained details of 33,000 travellers involved in a fast pass programme called 'Clear', and belonged to a consultant with Verified Identity Pass, which runs the programme.
"The computer held names, addresses and birthdates for people applying to the program, as well as driver's license, passport and green card information," said the San Francisco Chronicle.
Information had been downloaded from an encrypted database onto the unencrypted laptop, which was then reported lost on July 26. The laptop turned up again in the same office, which is kept locked, on August 5.
Was the laptop mislaid, or did someone with a key sneak into the office, remove the laptop, copy the contents, and return it? I think the former is more likely (he says, trying to keep a straight face).
PreviousComments on this post
Hi Tom
It really wouldn't surprise me if the laptop had been in the office all along. If not in the same place where it had been left, then maybe it had been absent mindedly left on a desk somewhere...who would want to admit to that?
