[Dataloss] Erlanger employees' names, identification lost

[Dissent]

http://www.tfponline.com/absolutenm/templates/breaking.aspx?articleid=5100&zoneid=41


Thousands of Erlanger hospital employees' names and personal 
identifying information stored electronically disappeared from a 
locked office on Sept. 15, and employees are hearing about the loss 
in letters sent to their homes this weekend, hospital officials said.

...

According to the letters, sent Friday afternoon to about 4,150 
current and former employees thought to be affected and about 2,050 
current employees who were not, the names and accompanying personal 
information were stored on a USB storage device, also known as a "jump drive."

The database information was limited to names and Social Security 
numbers, Erlanger officials said.

...

Erlanger officials said an employee who was authorized to use the 
information was working with the data in a "secured area," and 
noticed on Sept. 15 that the device was missing.

It remains unclear whether the information was lost, misplaced, or 
was stolen. Erlanger officials said there was no sign of a break-in 
to the office where the employee was working.

"This guy was working on it ... it was on his desk, and then it was 
gone," Erlanger board Chairman Bob Johnson said. He said he thinks 
the storage device was thrown away accidentally.

"It should take care of itself," he said. "I don't think it was one 
of those situations where somebody was trying to steal identities."

[...]