A laptop computer containing the personal data of 100 Union Pacific workers has been stolen and 1,500 people have been affected by a similar incident at a Toyota factory in the US. Experts at InfoWatch believe the theft of portable equipment containing valuable information has now reached epidemic proportions and companies will have to adapt quickly before the costs become unbearable.
Yet another data breach was reported on August 9. This time a laptop with personal data from a San Antonio-based company was stolen. Thieves reportedly stole the computer from the car of a Union Pacific employee. Officials with the railroad company said the laptop contained information about 100 workers, who are now at risk of identity theft. The company has already sent out letters notifying those affected about the theft. Last week, a laptop with employee information was stolen from a Toyota plant, affecting about 1,500 people.
“Almost every day some company or other suffers a data breach as a result of losing a laptop with commercial secrets or the personal details of their workers. Companies still haven’t realized that they need to protect their information, especially if it is stored on portable devices. It appears to be a completely new type of threat, because businesses are adapting to it very slowly. However, I’m sure that substantial losses will soon speed up the process,” says Denis Zenkin, marketing director at InfoWatch.
Source: MySA.com
