Missile Data Found on Hard Drives
May 15, 2009
New research from the Faculty of Advanced Technology at the University of Glamorgan has revealed that a significant number of computer hard drives that are bought second-hand still contain sensitive company and personal information.
The survey, commissioned by BT, of over 300 computer hard disks uncovered a wide range of information including bank account details, medical records, confidential business plans, financial company data, personal id numbers, job descriptions and even launch procedures for a US military missile air defence system.
Thirty four per cent of those disks examined contained information of either personal data that could be identified to an individual or commercial data identifying a company or organisation. The researchers concluded that a “surprisingly large range and quantity of information that could have a potentially commercially damaging impact or pose a threat to the identity and privacy of the individuals involved was recovered as a result of the survey.”
Professor Andrew Blyth who led the research at the University of Glamorgan commented, “Of significant concern is the number of large organisations that are still not disposing of confidential information in a secure manner. In the current financial climate they risk losing highly valuable propriety data.”
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