Posted on 06/29/2006 8:00:20 AM PDT by Froufrou
Lawmakers say they want to know whether a Veterans Affairs employee was being unfairly blamed for losing veterans' personal information, citing newly disclosed documents showing he had received permission to work on the data from home.
Veterans Affairs Secretary James Nicholson, before a House subcommittee Tuesday, is expected to testify before another congressional panel on Thursday.
"From the start, the VA has acted as if the theft was a PR problem that had to be managed, not fully confronted," said Rep. Bob Filner, D-Calif. "They're trying to pin it on this one guy, but I think it's other people we need to be looking at."
VA Secretary Jim Nicholson and other top department officials were to testify Thursday before a House committee investigating the government's largest computer security breach.
According to internal documents obtained by The Associated Press, the VA data analyst faulted for losing personal data for up to 26.5 million veterans had the department's approval to access millions of Social Security numbers on a laptop from home.
The documents show that the data analyst, whose name was being withheld, had approval as early as Sept. 5, 2002, to use special software at home that was designed to manipulate large amounts of data.
(Excerpt) Read more at articles.news.aol.com ...
I belived from the start there was more to it than what the letter and reports made it sound like. I can't see any semi-intelligent person thinking it okay to haul data around like that, without being under the impression that it's okay with management.
I'm waiting to see the violation of FMLA or FSMLA laws. Even if they monotired hours worked by time logged on the computer, I can't see a gubmint worker being allowed that much leeway.
This is happening all over the place. These idiots need to do a better job of securing personal data.
Everyone involved should be fired and then severely beaten.
Wen Ho Lee comes to mind. And who was that Director of the FBI who also hauled data home with him. I believe he was pardoned by slick willie.
This is like those idiot phone robots, keeping you tied up before you get a live person (if you ever do!) Whoever thought of working from home was looking for free overtime. It makes for bigger asses, on more than one level! ;o)
I'm a federal employee who has worked from home in the past, under the "Flexiplace" program (telecommuting). (I didn't work with a laptop, however.)
I was indeed allowed leeway--my hours weren't monitored by time logged on the computer; my productivity was measured by the amount of work I got done, just like when I was at the workplace. Just like the private sector.
I was feeling a bit sorry for this federal employee. It wasn't his fault the laptop was stolen; unless he was careless and left his door unlocked or something like that.
Late breaking news... Laptop with data has been recovered by Feds.
You are wrong there. I work in the private sector. Yes I can work at home but we cannot have client data of any kind on our laptops (cd, removable drives) PERIOD.
"This is happening all over the place. These idiots need to do a better job of securing personal data. "
The problem was that the sensitive data was not encrypted. That way if the lappy is stolen the data is useless.
I feel bad for him, too. When I was a state worker, though, our work time was very closely monitored and anyone caught working during the lunch hour was subject to immediate termination. The workload was horrendous and got worse and worse with initiatives to 'end welfare' that just didn't work.
The private sector has access to the systems directly through VPN access, this is not the government that works at home and has possibly private information. Also, just because someone doesn't work at home doesn't mean the information is secure. With flash drives now you can download massive amounts of information and put it in your pocket. There is risk everywhere. PERIOD
Whoever thought of working from home was looking for free overtime.
___________
I know I work in the private sector, so I'll allow for ignorance of government procedures, but of all the people I know and have known that work from home, they are universally salaried and exempt workers, meaning no overtime pay.
this is not the government that works at home and has possibly private information
this is not just the government that works at home and has access to private information.
Hope that makes more sense
That's what I mean. Same pay, no matter how long it takes to do the work. I think it's a little unfair in exchange for working in your bunny slippers and scratching yourself whenever and wherever you please. Give me the time clock any day. And leave the paperwork in the office, thank you very much.
Agreed. What about password protection and other security measures?
Applies to the private sector as well. Several incidents of laptops or data being stolen.
The cost of the incompetence mentioned in this article are unacceptable. Nicholson may be a decent man but he has no business keeping his job. Heads should roll. Cut it out. No more CYA.
It's true. I know Bank of America had a scare recently. Hackers are better and better. Firewalls are obsolete, what, daily?
IF I may
VA Claims stolen laptop recovered in neighborhood....
I just have this really bad feeling that another laptop was loaded up with like data and put in a neighbors home.......
Not that I don't trust the VA mind you, it the whole "don't trust any FedGov types with their collective nuts in the grinder" thing. CYA is the password of the day.
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