"latest information on veterans affairs data security"
go to
http://www.firstgov.gov/veteransinfo.shtml
copy and paste unless it shows up as click
why be concerned: stolen were data re:vets
names, social security numbers, dates of birth for up to 26.5 million veterans and some spouses. (no elecronic health records involved)
employee took this info home, home was burglarized and this data was stolen.
the va will be informing us asap.
manned call center 1-800-FED-INFO
(1-800-333-4636 0800-2100 EDT M-Sa as long as needed.
CHECK your bank statements, credit cards statements, etc.
problem? contact federal trade commission. (stolen may 2006) so need to check may stuff.
so far no need to contact financial institutions cancel credit cards or close bank accounts unless you find suspicious activity.
ftc (federal trade commission) has 4 steps) re: equifax, experian, transunion phone numbers could be added later if folks here desire.

This is one scary theft. 26.5 million records stolen. What business did this person have that was so important to do that he had to take the information home with him! Unexcusable. I'll be checking all information from now til forever!

Here's an MSNBC article on the theft:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12916803/

"The stolen data included names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth and numerical disability ratings. No medical records or financial information had been compromised, Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson said."

"America's veterans were sent scrambling for their credit reports Monday, as the Veteran's administration announced nearly all of them — and some of their family members — were at heightened risk for identity theft.

"A long-time analyst at the massive federal agency was blamed for the theft of 26.5 million Social Security numbers after he took home sensitive data and his home was burglarized."

However, if you call the number, you may not get much help as "vets who tried that on Monday often found little information was available.

""I just called the hotline number ... and the person answering the phone did not know anything about it," said veteran Jeff Phillips. "I was told that it was not possible to tell me if my info was among the info that was stolen because the data base was so big. I was told to monitor my credit and thank you for calling.""

There's got to be a law about how companies and their employees are allowed to handle people's personal data.

Also, if you haven't read an article on this MSNBC blog called The Red Tape Chronicles, here's one on the Veterans' security data burglary:

http://redtape.msnbc.com/2006/05/vets_deserve_be.html

(The other articles by this guy are good reading as well.)

hi ladymachb29

most interesting additions.

i especially found the red tape chronicles of interest--both the article and the reactions to it.

i'll bet most vets (i did) will find it echoes the variety of thoughts that enter the brain.