You would have thought that with all the broo-ha-ha over data security following the HMRC tape loss that commercial organizations would have learned that schlepping computer disks around the country is not a good idea. Apparently not.
HSBC says a computer disc containing the confidential personal details of around 370,000 of UK life assurance customers has gone missing.
The disc was lost at the beginning of February and is thought to have gone missing after being sent by external courier from HSBC’s Southampton offices to a reinsurance firm.
In a statement, HSBC says the password-protected disc includes names, life insurance cover levels, dates of birth and details on whether or not a customer smokes.
HSBC says the data lost is not considered sensitive to the point of putting customer bank accounts at risk. Are they kidding? Armed with this knowledge it is pretty easy to ‘break’ over the phone call in security measures.Â
More to the point, when will financial institutions, often seen as being at the forefront of technology adoption, get back to basics and operate integrated systems between themselves and their third party partners?
UPDATE: At least it’s not quite as bad as what happened to Dwarika Prasad. Termites ate his money at the Central Bank of India.
