German Survey Company Loses 41,000 Survey Records 122
mister_woods writes "It's not just governments that lose private data. Germany's Chaos Computer Club (CCC) reports that market research firm TNS Infratest/Emnid has lost 41,000 private data records of their survey participants. By simply changing the customer ID number in the browser's address bar access could be gained to comprehensive survey results, including names, addresses, dates of birth, email addresses, phone numbers and much more sensitive data. A CCC spokesman described this as 'unprofessional, grossly negligent and above all deeply worrying' and sees this loss as a vindication for its calls for strict regulations for public and private sector data collectors."
You know (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Another day, another data leak. (Score:5, Funny)
What are you worried about? It's just bits. Information wants to be free. It's not like you own it or anything. Complaining about it being posted on the net will just lead to the Streisand Effect.
Everyone knows that security through obscurity is a bad model. In the Web 2.0 world the only sustainable business model is to make your Social Security number public and sell support on people who want to use it. E.g. if some dude in Nigeria is trying to apply for a credit card in your name he might get asked about your postal address and secret codeword. You could make a few bucks if you gave him the information, more if you applied for the credit card for him yourself.
And don't try to encrypt stuff. Studies show that 95% of Nigerian phishers want DRM free personal information.
this is how common it is.. (Score:2, Funny)
It is established that an amazing (unknown)% of survey data is lost or released to unauthorized recipients. We'd tell you the percentage, but we lost the laptop with all records at the airport.
"Bah" on Stupid Comments within Story Summaries. (Score:4, Funny)
"It's not just governments that lose private data.
Golly, I just assumed that governments agencies, such as "TJX", "HSBC", and "Radio Shack" lose data.
Really, does the writer really think that Slashdot readers don't read Slashdot? TJX and HSBC certainly aren't part of any government, yet there have been numerous reports about the loss of a ridiculous number of records.
As for Radio Shack - I'm pretty sure that the government is propping them up. Then again, the government seems to be propping up banks too. OK, I stand corrected. Never mind.
Re:"Bah" on Stupid Comments within Story Summaries (Score:4, Funny)
CIA front. Didn't you know that's where all the terrorists buy their bomb parts? Why do you think they insist on such detailed contact info for a $1.50 purchase?
Re:Horrible article title. Loses --- Exposes (Score:3, Funny)
Or simply: TNS Infratest/Emnid has lost control of 41,000 private data records.
Nah, "exposes" creates more vivid mental images.
Re:How pathetic (Score:5, Funny)