There has been a data breach of what could be the ideal data base for identity theft. Over a hundred thousand doctors in Wisconsin have had their personal information compromised:
“…A California health insurance company posted their social security numbers on a website for about two months. The company, Health Net Federal Services, says the social security numbers for doctors from eleven states had been up on a website starting in November.”
link: Doctors’ Personal Information at Risk
Not only have the social security numbers been exposed but these are high income individuals with a good likelihood of no credit problems. It would make using these data for criminal activities that much easier.
There is also a development that is noteworthy. Security breaches have become so common place now that such a incident receives very little press coverage. By comparison to millions of individuals files being compromised, this is a small incident. Nevertheless, the damage that can be done with these data in the wrong hands would be staggering.
Catherine Forsythe
Director of Operations
FlyingHamster: http://flyinghamster.com/
[tag]data base, data breach, privacy, security, identity theft[/tag]