No matter the size of organization you work for, at some point, there will be technology upgrades.
Some school districts have a technology auction, where a multitude of old monitors and computer towers are sold. Even the mid-sized non-profit I worked for would sell off dated equipment, or donate it. I’ve passed along a few computers, myself, but I never forgot to wipe my data first, even if it was headed straight to the trash.
The NJ Treasury Department forgot.
Almost 80% of the surplus computers had sensitive data left on them. Auditors found 46 of the 58 hard drives auditors tested, 1/3 of them had personal data.
The data included Social Security numbers of taxpayers and employees; child abuse case files, including a child fatality report; a list of state employees’ computer passwords; and a judge’s tax returns. A memo from the judge on a lawyer’s “personal emotional problems” was also found, as was personal contact information on most members of Corzine’s Cabinet.
Oops.
Note to self: Delete.
[via AP]
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