Stars and Stripes [messages-online.gif] 
   HOME  |  ABOUT US  |  ADVERTISE  |  CLASSIFIEDS  |  GET OUR PAPER  |  GIFT
   GUIDE  |  EDUCATION  |  SPECIAL PUBS  |  GAMER  |  STRIPES STORE
   [search.gif] ________________________ [go.gif]-Submit
     Advanced Search Monday, December 1, 2008 Newsletters   RSS 2.0 Feed  
   Podcasts 
   News
   Sports
   Stripes Travel
   Military Life
   Opinion
   UK Weekly
   Contact us
   Stripes multimedia
   Photo of the Day
   Blogs
   Weather
   Comics
   NewsPuzzle
   What's Up With That?
   Links
   Electronic Paper
   Library research
   Buy Stripes photos
   Spotted
   Stripes Lite
     _________________________________________________________________

Special features

   [eln_logo.jpg]
   ELECTION PAGE
   Obama interview
   McCain interview
     _________________________________________________________________

   Heroes 2008 
       _____________________________________________________________

     * Guantanamo:
       Beyond the wire
     * Graduation '08
     * SOUTHCOM 
     * Memorial Day '08
     * Five Years in Iraq
     * Overseas gambling
     * Army-Navy Game
     * Center for the Intrepid
     * More features...
     _________________________________________________________________

   Your View Support Our Troops Map of Iraq Map of Afghanistan

   AddThis Social Bookmark Button 
   [email.png] 
   [print.png] 

Army waited to tell of possible security breach

6,000 beneficiaries receive letters detailing loss of info on laptop

   By Kevin Dougherty, Stars and Stripes
   European edition, Tuesday, December 2, 2008 

   VILSECK, Germany — U.S. Army medical officials in southeast Germany waited
   nearly  two months before notifying more than 6,000 beneficiaries of a
   possible security breach regarding their personal information stored on a
   lost laptop computer.

   Authorities know the names, Social Security numbers and health information
   of at least 26 individuals were stored on the laptop, according to a news
   release sent Monday from the U.S. Army Medical Department Activity, Bavaria.

   However, officials said similar information on approximately 6,000 other
   patients also may have been on the missing computer, though they don’t know
   for sure.

   According to the release, the laptop went missing on Oct. 4.

   Notices that were sent to the beneficiaries on Nov. 24 were characterized as
   a precaution.

   The letters were addressed to not only beneficiaries in the affected region,
   but  to  people  from other regional commands in the United States and
   elsewhere who may be affected, the release states.

   The release did not explain why Army medical officials waited so long to
   notify the public.

   In a phone interview late Monday, Lt. Col. Henry Spring, the unit’s deputy
   commander of clinical services, attributed the delay to bureaucracy, privacy
   issues, the need to provide reliable information and a concern over unduly
   scaring people.

   "Privacy is important," Spring said.

   "We are concerned about people’s privacy."

   The employee who lost the laptop apparently had it in their backpack while
   at Nuremberg’s main train station, according to the release.

   The employee, who was not named, was en route to a temporary duty assignment
   when they lost track of the backpack prior to boarding their train, said
   Anne Torphy, a unit spokeswoman.

   Officials believe whoever took possession of the laptop "could not access"
   the data on it "because of the encryption software program," Spring said.

   The user must have connection to a U.S. government network, a secure Common
   Access Card, and a password to access the computer, the release said.

   "At no point," Spring added, "did we underestimate the concern it would
   cause folks."

   Army officials in Vilseck have established a hotline for those who have
   received letters.

   The number is: (DSN) 476-4627, or civilian at 09662-83-4627. There is also
   an e-mail address people can write to: BMEDDAC.Privacy@amedd.army.mil.

Recent News Articles

     * South Koreans end operations in Iraq 
     * Soldier in murder-for-hire case back in U.S. 
     * Dongducheon may get police department 
     * Naples area to see more strikes 
     * COLA decreases in U.K. 
     * Robot mechanics stay busy as machines take a beating 
     * European briefs: Journalists dodge bombing in Baghdad 
        * Army waited to tell of possible security breach 

Have you been Spotted?

   Gate 2 Fest 2008 Kokusai Parade Sanjaya Malakar at The New Sanno Hotel 

   Check out our new community photo site!
   Stripes Messages
     * Submit a free online holiday message

    Win with Stripes!
     * Stripes GAMER: "BIG GAME GIVEAWAY"
     * New Promotion: "News You Can Use"
     * College Football Game of the Week
        * NFL Challenge
    Local sites
     * Stripes Guam
     * Pacific Advertising Weeklies
     * Welcome To Europe Guide

    Latest Guides
     * 2008 Holiday Shopping Guide
     * Combined Federal Campaign Online Guide
     * U.S. Constitution Day Primer
     * 2008 Insurance Guide
     * 2008 Retirement Guide
     * 2008 Internet Shopping Guide
     * 2008 Financial Planning Guide

  Home | Archives | Stripes Lite | Ombudsman | Advertising | Contest rules
   Newsletters | About Us | Feedback | Contact Us | Job Openings | Press
                                  Releases
   © 2008 Stars and Stripes. All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer | Web Notice