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Strike-hit Swansea accused of data security lapse

Computer discs with confidential details left unsecured but Council denies any breach

By Andy McCue on 15 September 2004 09:30

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  1. 1. John Duffy

    So the striking IT department are starting the propaganda machine.

    You can see the huddle now. “What shall we do?” “A security breach is best, I know I have the spare key to the backup safe. Lets send a sympathiser in with a camera take a picture of the safe open, that will screw the council”

    All together now “Great idea”.

    Only problem is, it is not a safe is it! It’s a cupboard lined with steel. How long will that last in a fire? So the expose is the IT staff and there back up strategy. One more question does the information go off site as well or have you forgotten that little one as well.

    • 15 September 2004 10:59
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  2. 2. Steve Houghton

    What a load of desperate nonsense from Unison. Any one could watch safe being opened, pop over and offer £50 for a qucik picture, then watch the safe being locked 2 minutes later. Surely the employee who took the picture should be under investigation for blatantly trying to breach security themselves? Pictues like this only prove that the safe was open for 30 seconds, what a load of rubbish!

    • 15 September 2004 11:03
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  3. 3. Simon

    Well thtis statement is a load of bol^H^H^Hrubbish ...

    "It is impossible to meaningfully view the content of the discs without access to both the back-up device on which the discs were created, and also through the use of specialist software purchased by the council, to which only a limited number of staff have access."

    So it's impossible to load these (presumably) standard format disks into an off the shelf drive of the same format then ? And as for the "specialist software", I wouldn't be at all surprised to find a bog standard database behind it with easily determinable file structures.

    So in practical terms, the disks will be easily readable, and the data on them is probably easily decipherable as well.

    • 15 September 2004 11:09
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  4. 4. Jeff Halborg

    Mr Duffy obvioulsy has NO knowledge of security safes at all. It is almost impossible to obtain 'spare keys' - I invite him to try? These keys were held by security staff themseleves until the head of ICT demanded to have them himself.

    If Mr Duffy can't say something sensible, I suggest he shuts up!

    • 15 September 2004 23:24
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  5. 5. anonymous

    It is easy to make cheap dismissive comments, but this security issue was actually reported to the IT workforce by staff inside the authority who were appalled by the situation. Our IT team are professionals, unlike the cowboys they have covering them.

    • 18 September 2004 16:07
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  6. 6. anonymous

    What can you say but unbelieveable,that fresh computer paper is stored in a cabinet where security keys and confidential computer discs are stored.Thieves get in there and have a field day.Is all the countries including Swansea's DVLC security conducted like this?It probably isn't? But what if it is,Swansea treat your workers properly & get off the Privatisation band wagon or you will end up on the Outsourcing register in Bombay or some where.You know it makes sense only Fat Cats prosper from this Negative way of thinking.

    • 20 December 2004 11:36
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