Stolen VA data goes beyond initial reports

[ProSense]

Stolen VA data goes beyond initial reports

By HOPE YEN, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 15 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Personal information on 26.5 million veterans that was stolen from a Veterans Affairs employee this month not only included Social Security numbers and birthdates but in many cases phone numbers and addresses, internal documents show.

The three pages of memos by the VA, written by privacy officer Mark Whitney and distributed to high-level officials shortly after the May 3 burglary, offer new details on the scope of one of the nation's largest security breaches. The memos were obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press.

They show that a file containing 6,744 records pertaining to "mustard gas veterans" — or those who participated in chemical testing programs during World War II — was breached, and that a "short file" with as many as 10 diagnostic codes indicating a veteran's disability also was stolen.

At the same time, however, the memos suggest that the data might be difficult to retrieve by thieves.

more...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060531/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/vets_id_theft_4

[PuraVidaDreamin]

1. Of course it did!

Why do these bastards think they can supress everything
and get away with it?

[The_Casual_Observer]

2. When was the last time the initial report about anything

wasn't soft peddled? Anymore it's simply a waiting game for the other shoe to drop.

[blm]

3. Just as we figured - BushInc LIED - - - AGAIN.

.

[CountAllVotes]

4. hmmm ....

Good luck is what I say on stealing this new "data".

My grandfather was a "mustard gas victim" and there are no reliable records of him to be found.

The words "mustard gas" appear nowhere; only the words "totally disabled" appear with no reason given on his military discharge records. I was told it was likely mustard gas by the National Cemetery where he is buried.

Considering his horrific symptoms, I have no doubt that this is what caused his disability. He was in WWI and lasted 6 months after enlistment. And that is all I know about my grandfather on purpose it seems.

:grr:

[Ian David]

5. On the other hand, some meth-head probably sold the laptop for $100 n/t