MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG
Mo. Digital News
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Mo. Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG
Mo. Digital News
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Mo. Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
JEFFERSON CITY -Thousands of computers that have been redistributed by the state government over the last few years may still have sensitive materials on them, according to State Auditor Claire McCaskill.
A study conducted by the State Auditor's office in May and June found government computers that were set to be redistributed were not properly cleared of personal information. This information included Social Security numbers, bank records and computer network access information.
"The State Auditor's Office has released an audit that should cause some concern among Missourians about the privacy of information the government holds on their behalf," McCaskill said Thursday, in a news conference from her Capitol office.
McCaskill said more than 60 percent of the computers released to the public had not properly cleared. Inexpensive and easily available software can be used to retrieve information that is not entirely cleared from a computer's hard drive. She also said that there is no way of knowing where these redistributed computers have ended up.
"The unfortunate part about this audit was that this discussed in a state IT meeting in February of 2003," McCaskill said, "but in spite of the fact of it being recognized as a potential problem, nothing had been done until this audit."
The tested computers were taken from the Missouri State Agency for Surplus Property on various dates in May and June. The agency receives computers from all state departments, then redistributes them to not-for-profit organizations or sells them through auctions where they can be purchased by the public.
The report recommended that state departments set a protocol for whose responsibility it is to clear surplus computers' hard drives and have a set process for testing the computers before they go to the Surplus Progerty Agency.
The audit reported that the involved departments have promised to comply with the recommendation.