A laptop containing the personal information and bank account details of thousands of people and businesses has been stolen from Glasgow City Council.
(As if that aint bad enough watch for keywords)
The local authority is now contacting 37,835 affected customers, including suppliers and people receiving winter fuel payments and care grants.
Strathclyde Police and the Information Commissioner have been informed about the theft, which took place last month.
The laptop was password-protected but not encrypted.
(It’s a laptop, either it should have been locked away in a secure cabinet or the information should have been on the main system not in a ‘pocketable’ item.)
It was one of two laptops stolen during a break-in at the council offices in Cochrane Street some time between Monday 28 and Tuesday 29 May.
The local authority said the full extent of the data loss did not become apparent until last Wednesday.
“We are sorry that this has happened and apologise for the inconvenience it has caused”
said a Spokesman Glasgow City Council
The information on the laptop relates to 17,692 companies and 20,143 individuals.
It includes names and addresses and, in the case of 16,451 customers, bank account details.
A full internal audit is being carried out.
Did you spot the keywords? Now, only now are they contacting customers.
Last month, the crime took place 14 days ago.
Last wednesday, it took 7 days to determine what was lost despite there being a 4 day period during which that could have been their only task and another three days leading up to that 4 day period.
Internal audit If they did regular audits they would have known what info was on that computer on day one. Why was such info on a lap top anyway?
I think Glasgow City Council have been exercising poor Data protection systems and someone’s head should roll.
And finally
"Customers should remember that no one from the council would ever call at their home or telephone them to ask for personal information, such as banking details”
Well the perps won’t phone either they already have all the details!