Sensitive tape missing from Arkansas DIS
A computer storage tape belonging to the Arkansas Department of Information Systems (DIS) with data from criminal background checks dating back to the mid-1990s is missing from an information-protection company's storage vault.How many victims? 807,000
What type of personal information? Names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers and addresses.
Details: The tape, which contained background checks that were run over at least 12 years, was last seen in mid-December. The department discovered the tape was missing during a review and upgrade of backup files that were stored at the Information Vaulting Services facility in Little Rock, Ark.
State police have investigated but didn't find any evidence of criminal activity, the Department of Information Systems said. The attempt would have been very difficult because two forms of electronic security need to be passed before reaching the files in a massive vault, where only workers can access the tapes.
What was the response? Information Vaulting Services adopted new precautions after the incident, using a log-in, log-out system.
Individuals who have undergone criminal background checks are being advised to check if their information was on the missing tape by calling 888-682-0411 or visiting http://notify.arkansas.gov. The department advises that anyone can obtain a free credit report visiting http://annualcreditreport.com.
Quote: "I really, honestly, don't know what happened," Danny Palo, the chief operating officer of the data-storage company. "Clearly there were some missteps between (Information Vaulting Services) and (the Department of Information Systems)."
Source: www.thecabin.net/, Log Cabin Democrat, “State: Background-check data missing from vault,” Feb. 25, 2009.
