[Dataloss] Stolen laptop reveals PII of 1500 Toyota job applicants

[Chris Walsh]

Via http://www.woai.com/news/local/story.aspx? 
content_id=DB231CD9-22CB-4335-9256-6CAE88476600


Security Breach at Toyota Plant
LAST UPDATE: 8/4/2006 4:47:20 AM
Posted By: Walker Robinson
This story is available on your cell phone at mobile.woai.com.

A security breach at the Toyota plant was being investigated Thursday  
after a laptop computer containing personal information for more than  
a thousand people was stolen, News 4 WOAI learned.

The laptop belonged to an independent contractor who was testing  
people applying for jobs at the plant, officials said. The computer  
was stolen after-hours. Toyota officials were sending out notices to  
people whose information may have been compromised.

More than 100,000 people have applied for jobs at the Toyota plant,  
and the personal information of applicants and employees could be in  
jeopardy, officials said. The stolen laptop contained the names and  
social security numbers of 1,500 people.

The computer was locked in the plant's exercise facility, but company  
officials said someone found they key to the facility and took the  
laptop. Toyota officials told News 4 WOAI they believe the thief  
wanted the computer, not the files with personal information.

“We take very seriously the safeguarding of personal information and  
we are reviewing our security procedures to see if we can strengthen  
them further,” a company spokesman told News 4 WOAI.

The case has been turned over to San Antonio Police investigators,  
Toyota officials said.