Biting the hand that feeds IT
Biting the hand that feeds IT
|
|
Original URL: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/12/12/public_fears_gov_data/
Research sponsored by Symantec reveals that six out of ten UK citizens do not believe their data is safe with government departments.
Bearing in mind the endless stream of data losses from the British government in recent weeks, this figure is really quite low. Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs lost private details on 25m people in November.
Since then we've heard HMRC lost data in six previous cases since 2003, the DVLA lost 6,000 drivers' details and sent letters containing private information to the wrong addresses. The Information Commissioner said several departments had 'fessed up to other losses.
Yesterday Sefton PTC said it had wrongly sent out details on all its staff to four companies - which it refused to name on confidentiality grounds.
Corporations do not fare much better in the survey - 61 per cent of respondents do not trust companies with their personal data. Last week a Florida man admitted stealing 8.4m customer records and selling them on.
Many people believe more legislation would help - some 46 per cent believed existing legislation to "keep individuals informed about the disclosure or loss of their personal data is inadequate".
Information Commissioner Richard Thomas has said his department needs more money and legal powers to properly protect our data.
Researchers from Ipsos/MORI spoke to 1,000 people by 'phone between 28 and 29 November. ®
International tradewinds fill Symantec's Q3 sails (24 January 2008)
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2008/01/24/symantec_q3_2007_earnings/
Confidential details fall off the back of lorries (14 January 2008)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01/14/document_breach_brace/
2007 worst ever year for data protection (7 January 2008)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01/07/lib_dems_data_losses/
MIA in Iowa - personal data on 3m UK driving test candidates (17 December 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/12/17/dsa_test_data_loss/
Darling plays wait and see on HMRC disc loss (17 December 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/12/17/darling_hmrc_reforms/
Talking to themselves - how uk.gov 'consults' on IT exports (17 December 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/12/17/ukti_ictmarketing_consultation/
Brown quizzed on gov IT failures (13 December 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/12/13/brown_quizzed_it/
Merseyside health authority gives away staff data (11 December 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/12/11/sefton_pct_gives_away_data/
UK.gov loses driver ID data (11 December 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/12/11/driver_data_discs_disaster/
Info chief calls for data safeguards in wake of HMRC debacle (11 December 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/12/11/ico_identity_fraud_statement/
DVLA coughs to data slip (7 December 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/12/07/dvla_data_error/
HMRC coughs to more data losses (6 December 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/12/06/hmrc_systemic_failures/
HMRC offers £20k reward for ID goldmine CDs (5 December 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/12/05/hmrc_offers_cash_for_discs/
ICO warns of more 'datagate' breaches (5 December 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/12/05/ico_hmrc_not_alone/
IT pro admits stealing 8.4M consumer records (4 December 2007)
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2007/12/04/admin_steals_consumer_records/
Running queries on the HMRC database fiasco (25 November 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/11/25/tech_view_of_data_blunder/
Info chief renews call for data breach crime penalties (21 November 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/11/21/hmrc_spot_checks/
Lost HMRC discs pop up on eBay (21 November 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/11/21/hmarc_ebay_auction/
© Copyright 2008
