UK.gov loses driver ID data

Found on The Register on Monday, 10 December 2007
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Unencrypted computer discs containing the names and addresses of 6,000 Northern Ireland motorists has gone missing in the post.

News of the data loss at the DVLA comes shortly after the far larger Child Benefit data leak at HM Revenue & Customs that's left the government hunting for discs containing data of 25m people. The latest incident provides evidence that using CDs to distribute unencrypted data about citizens was, if not standard government practice, then a common insecure method used across multiple government agencies.

In the latest such incident, Leeds Building Society warned its workforce of 1,000 that it had mislaid copies of their personal details during the process of moving its HR department during a building refurbishment project, the Press Association reports.

And everybody tells you to never give out personal information. Feels good to know that the government even fails at the most basic security measures. I know they don't like encryption because it makes it harder for them to spy on you, but they really don't need to prove it so blatantly.