Major malfunction

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Jun 21, 2008

A mistake sometimes can be forgiven, depending on how serious the offense was and the circumstances under which it was made. But the state's failure to wipe clean the hard drives of computers it had identified as surplus and prepared for sale to the public is a mistake that can't be overlooked.

There have been plenty of reports in recent years of confidential information falling into the wrong hands through the dispersal of computers that retained data on their hard drives.

The state should have been forewarned, and thus forearmed, and excuses aren't acceptable.

An audit of the state's surplus property program uncovered the problem when it examined 15 computers and found seven of them retained information considered confidential under state and federal law. The information included thousands of names and Social Security numbers.

That information, as a result of the audit, wasn't sold to the highest bidder, but the state last year sold 600 computers through its surplus property program. Any bets all those hard drives were free of confidential information that could be used by a savvy scam artist or someone intent on identity theft?

Also as a result of the audit, state agencies moving computers to surplus property status now are required to provide a certificate with each machine stating its hard drive has been cleaned of all data. The surplus program then will conduct another inspection.

That's all good, but we just hope the state computers sold earlier aren't used to cause anyone harm.

The lesson the state learned through its audit should serve as a reminder to all of us that technology brings with it challenges and dangers that can't be ignored. Business and personal computers also retain on their hard drives a wealth of information capable of causing harm or embarrassment.

The ease of banking, paying bills or making purchases online has become routine for many of us, but those transactions require sharing personal information that should be obliterated before the machines are sold, passed along or simply tossed out.

Parents should be particularly careful when their children decide it's time for a new computer. Young people have grown up with computers, and too many of them are fearless when it comes to sharing information they wouldn't want to be more widely disseminated.

If there's any concern the hard drive may not be clean before a computer leaves the office or home, take it out and destroy it. The computer will lose some value, but the next owner could buy a new hard drive for less than $100.

Programs designed to retrieve information from hard drives are available to anyone who wants to buy one.

We shouldn't be making it easy for those intent on harm or mischief.Sen. Pat Roberts, 109 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510; phone (202) 224-4774. Local office: 444 S.E. Quincy, Topeka, 66603; phone 295-2745. Web site: www.roberts.senate.gov/.

Sen. Sam Brownback, 303 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510; phone (202) 224-6521. Local office: 612 S. Kansas Ave., Topeka, 66603; phone 233-2503. Web site: www.brownback.senate.gov/.

Rep. Nancy Boyda, 1711 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C., 20515; phone (202) 225-6601. Topeka office: 510 S.W. 10th, 66612, (785) 234-8111, fax (785) 234-9111. Web site: www.boyda.house.gov/.

Rep. Dennis Moore, 1727 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C., 20515; phone (202) 225-2865. Lawrence office: 901 Kentucky, No. 205, Lawrence, 66044; phone (785) 842-9313. Web site: www.moore.house.gov/.

Rep. Jerry Moran, 2202 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515; phone (202) 225-2715. Web site: www.house.gov/moranks01/ .

Rep. Todd Tiahrt, 2441 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C., 20515; phone (202) 225-6216. Web site: www.house.gov/tiahrt/.