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ABN Amro Data Leaked On P2P
David Utter
Staff Writer
2007-09-28
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The use of a P2P program on a computer in ABN Amro Mortgage Group's network revealed over 5,000 security numbers to unknown parties.
 | | ABN Amro Data Leaked On P2P |  |
Someone had BearShare on their computer at ABN Amro, and that wasn't a good thing. P2P software can make files available unless the programs have been carefully configured to avoid certain files or directories.
USA Today said someone failed to exhibit that kind of care, as three spreadsheets full of personal information made it onto other machines running BearShare. Such incidents have been a concern of security pros, who worry about P2P software on their networks.
Tiversa, a firm that tracked the wrongfully shared data to a computer in Florida, predicted the sensitive, identity theft enabling information probably resides with criminals now.
Company CEO Robert Boback said in the report, "There is no question in my mind that...identity thieves have these files, and if they haven't already, they will be acting on them very soon."
The persistent, decades-long misuse of Social Security numbers as a unique identifier for people has become a tremendous problem in these modern Internet times. Each time a company loses control of information containing those numbers, innocent people face punishment from criminals.
Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be a way to stuff the Social Security genie back in its bottle. The only course seems to be creating more stringent regulation of how such information should be protected, with massive penalties for the firm that fails to do so imposed.
About the Author:
David Utter is a business and technology writer for SecurityProNews and WebProNews.
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