[Dataloss] CITY WORKERS IN ID FEAR OVER DATA THEFT

[ziplock]

http://www.nypost.com/seven/12232006/news/regionalnews/city_workers_in_id_fear_over_data_theft_regionalnews_david_seifman.htm

 December 23, 2006 -- A major health insurer has delivered a gloomy
holiday message to 42,000 city employees, warning that their personal
data may have been compromised during a burglary in Massachusetts, The
Post has learned.

Group Health Insurance Inc. reported that thieves made off with computer
tapes containing the names, Social Security numbers "as well as other
data" in a break-in at the office of one of its vendors, Concentra
Preferred Systems, on Oct. 26.

"Other businesses within the same building were broken into and a number
of items in addition to the lock box [with the computer tapes], including
cash and other valuables, were taken," GHI said in its Dec. 15 letter.

"Based upon the items stolen, there is no reason to believe that the
computer data was targeted and that this was anything other than a common
break-in."

Officials said the stolen computer tapes could be read only on commercial
equipment equipped with special software.

Concentra also provided auditing services for Aetna Inc., which said
personal data for about 130,000 clients nationwide had been breached.

One city employee said he was furious at GHI for not offering to pay for
credit monitoring.

"I'm really somewhat outraged by the whole thing," he said.

GHI spokeswoman Ilene Margolin said it's "highly unlikely" anyone could
access the stolen tapes, but city employees with concerns could contact
GHI's compliance and privacy officer, Mitchell Goldberg, to obtain added
security for their accounts.