Laptop theft could put 7,000 people’s bank details at risk

13 February 2012

The financial details of more than 7,000 people could be at risk following a series of laptop thefts at an Irish broadband provider.

Dublin based Eircom has informed the Data Protection Commissioner of the theft of three laptops that were taken from its offices and an employee’s home. The stolen laptops are believed to contain the bank details and credit card information of 6,845 customers and 686 members of staff.

Although the incidents have been reported to the Irish Banking Federation as a precaution, there is no evidence at this time that the data at risk has been used by a third party.

A spokesperson from Eircom said: “The personal data at risk include details such as an applicant's name, address and telephone numbers, as well as a range of documentation used to support a customer application, such as passport and driver's licence details, various photo IDs or utility bills, which all may have been used to establish proof of identity. In some cases, financial data, such as bank account, laser or credit card details, is also at risk,"

The broadband provider is currently taking proactive steps to address the situation and has a number of customer care agents contacting customers who may have been affected. Staff whose data may be at risk have also been notified of the incident.

A review of the group's encryption policy is under way to ensure that all computers and laptops are compliant with the group's encryption policy.

The UK’s expert in managing mobile computing, LapSafe® Products, believes that all organisations should utilise physical security measures, in addition to encryption, to minimise the risk of thier laptops being stolen in the first place. Having laptops stolen is not just inconvenient and costly, but laptop theft can put individuals at risk.

To find out more about preventing laptop theft, visit www.lapsafe.com

Sources: Silicon Republic