Sensitive Government Gateway Information on Lost Flash Drive
An investigation has been launched after a memory stick with user names and passwords for a key government computer system was found in a pub parking lot
The Gateway website allows members of the public to access hundreds of government services including self-assessment tax returns, pension entitlements and child benefits.
The Mail on Sunday, which broke the story, said the memory stick might allow someone to access the personal details of the 12 million people registered on it.
A subcontractor for the governmetn Atos Origin, which lost the stick, said there had been a “direct breach” of its procedures. What good are procedures if they are not followed? Atos Orgin should lose the government contracts, the UK government needs to send a clear message to contractors that violations such as this are not acceptable at any leve.