Released: April 05, 2007

Personal data at risk in lost IRS laptops

Source: Kevin McCoy, USA Today

At least 490 IRS computers have been stolen or lost since 2003 in security breaches that potentially jeopardized the personal information of more than 2,000 taxpayers, a government audit reported Wednesday.

The computers were lost in 387 incidents, most of which were not reported to the IRS computer security office as required, according to the report by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.

The audit also found that IRS laptops lacked adequate password controls and encryption software that would protect taxpayer information and other data.

“This is a serious concern,” said Inspector General J. Russell George, whose findings quantified one of several recent computer security breaches involving federal agencies. “The American public relies on the IRS to protect the personal information they provide.”

IRS Commissioner Mark Everson said the agency was unaware of any identity thefts stemming from the loss of the laptops. The IRS has “moved aggressively” since last summer to strengthen protection of taxpayer data, he said.

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