Can't seem to find it, readers.
"Missing files little threat, hospital says" by Elizabeth Cooney, Globe Correspondent | September 9, 2010
Missing computer files that possibly contained personal information on about 800,000 people connected to South Shore Hospital are “unrecoverable,’’ the hospital said yesterday after an investigation that also concluded there is little chance that individuals would be harmed by the data breach.
“All available evidence indicates that the files are unrecoverable and that there is little to no risk that information on the files has been or could be acquired,’’ the hospital said in a statement.
The Weymouth hospital disclosed the lost files on July 19. Back-up computer tapes from Jan. 1, 1996, through Jan. 6, 2010, were lost by a subcontractor working for a company South Shore had hired to destroy three boxes containing unmarked computer tapes. One box was destroyed but two boxes never arrived at their destination in Texas....
Investigators working for South Shore concluded that the sealed boxes of computer tapes were probably sent to a commercial landfill along with other unclaimed shipments....
Also see: Boston Globe Goes to the Garbage Dump
Aren't they supposed to be protecting that stuff from ID thieves.
In light of the findings, the hospital said it has dropped plans to send letters informing potentially affected people about the lost health and financial data and will rely instead on notices published in newspapers and on the hospital’s and physicians’ websites, and on signs posted in their offices....
You know, the stuff no one ever reads.
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