[Dataloss] Op-Ed: Vets Deserve Better Treatment After Data Theft

[lyger]

http://redtape.msnbc.com/2006/05/vets_deserve_be.html

Posted: Monday, May 22 at 03:14 pm CT by Bob Sullivan

It is perhaps the largest theft of Social Security numbers to date. And 
the victims, who once put their lives on the line for their county, appear 
to be getting even less compensation than most victims of data theft.

On Monday, the Veterans Administration announced that an employee had 
taken home data on 26.5 million veterans, and that data was stolen. It's a 
staggering amount, dwarfing other recent high-profile incidents at major 
U.S. firms like Citibank, ChoicePoint, and Bank of America. And yet, the 
support offered to victims by the VA is dwarfed by the support corporate 
America has offered in similar situations.
Posted: Monday, May 22 at 03:14 pm CT by Bob Sullivan

It is perhaps the largest theft of Social Security numbers to date. And 
the victims, who once put their lives on the line for their county, appear 
to be getting even less compensation than most victims of data theft.

On Monday, the Veterans Administration announced that an employee had 
taken home data on 26.5 million veterans, and that data was stolen. It's a 
staggering amount, dwarfing other recent high-profile incidents at major 
U.S. firms like Citibank, ChoicePoint, and Bank of America. And yet, the 
support offered to victims by the VA is dwarfed by the support corporate 
America has offered in similar situations.

It's become standard practice for data leakers to offer free credit 
monitoring to victims, so they are able to watch their credit reports 
daily for signs of misuse. The services are available from the credit 
bureaus, and cost about $10 a month. Corporations that leak data and foot 
the bill usually get big discounts.

So far, the vets haven't been offered credit monitoring. Instead, the VA 
is reminding victims that they are entitled to a free copy of their credit 
report every year, and then basically wishing them good luck.

[...]