'F' is for failures,that's all you spooks and swine scanning us on the
taxpayers pad.
Huge military ID theft; reward offered
Wednesday, January 1, 2003 Posted: 9:24 AM EST (1424 GMT)
PHOENIX, Arizona (AP) -- A government contractor posted a $100,000 reward
Tuesday in the theft of Social Security numbers and other personal records
of 500,000 military service members and their families in 16 states.
The theft of computer hard drives from TriWest Healthcare Alliance could
turn into one of the largest identity thefts on record if the information
is misused, the Federal Trade Commission said.
On Tuesday, prosecutors and TriWest jointly announced the reward for
information leading to the arrest and conviction of thieves who broke into
Phoenix-based TriWest's office December 14 and stole the equipment.
Going digital
The theft came as the Defense Department is working to computerize the
medical records of all military personnel.
The stolen computers have no connection to the larger project, but Pentagon
officials are "going to learn from this issue and do what's necessary" to
protect sensitive information, spokesman Jim Turner said.
The stolen hard drives contained names, addresses, phone numbers, medical
claim histories and Social Security numbers.
No indication of ties to terrorism
TriWest provides managed health care to about 1.1 million active-duty
personnel, their dependents and retirees in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa,
Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North
Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming and western Texas.
David McIntyre Jr., TriWest's chief executive officer, said there is no
indication that any client information has been misused.
U.S. Attorney Paul Charlton said there is nothing to indicate the crime was
tied to terrorism, and that the information could not be used to get into
secure military areas.
McIntyre declined comment on the company's security other than to say it
has improved since the break-in. The theft hasn't disrupted TriWest's
operations, he said.
'F' grade for lack of security
The Pentagon is building a network to computerize the entire military
health care system, including patient records of 8.7 million service
members, retirees and their families who receive medical care under
Pentagon programs.
The Pentagon is planning to roll out the project at up to seven military
hospitals across the nation after successfully testing the concept at four
locations. The system eventually will be expanded worldwide.
The Defense Department said the system will give health care professionals
quick and easy access to patient records, but privacy experts say it could
make identity theft easier.
The Pentagon recently received an "F" grade for its computer security from
a House Government Reform subcommittee. The report did not take into
account the unfinished computer project.
For more information on the theft at TriWest, enrollees can call the
company toll-free at 1-888-339-9378, e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] or
visit www.triwest.com.
http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/biztech/01/01/pentagon.computerthef.ap/index.html
