Comments on: Wholesale data theft http://heatherbrooke.org/2007/wholesale-data-theft/ Heather Brooke is an award-winning writer, journalist and activist Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:13:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Peter HOAR http://heatherbrooke.org/2007/wholesale-data-theft/comment-page-1/#comment-1405 Peter HOAR Thu, 22 Nov 2007 19:41:13 +0000 http://www.yrtk.org/2007/wholesale-data-theft/#comment-1405 Heather - Sorry, missed the broadcast. I don't think it's alarmist to suggest it will be years before anyone can be reasonably certain they are not going to get fleeced. If it's so easy to copy and send the info, how can anyone be certain this was not deliberate well-organised theft, dressed up as a foolish act ? The stuff will be well abroad by now and a months head start too. It would take years to work through the various scams on all that data. The lowly perpetrator will only get fired at worst, and could retire on the proceeds, (if not bumped off.) How come there is this "free for all" copying facility at HMRC that only relies on the word power of guidelines and trust ? Why allow any copying except in the secure room ? Why no software blocker that tells you (in a Dalek voice) "The operation you have attempted is illegal and has been reported to HMRC Security !" ? The blathering reassurances only make it worse. Peter HOAR burn i Heather – Sorry, missed the broadcast. I don’t think it’s alarmist to suggest it will be years before anyone can be reasonably certain they are not going to get fleeced. If it’s so easy to copy and send the info, how can anyone be certain this was not deliberate well-organised theft, dressed up as a foolish act ? The stuff will be well abroad by now and a months head start too. It would take years to work through the various scams on all that data. The lowly perpetrator will only get fired at worst, and could retire on the proceeds, (if not bumped off.) How come there is this “free for all” copying facility at HMRC that only relies on the word power of guidelines and trust ? Why allow any copying except in the secure room ? Why no software blocker that tells you (in a Dalek voice) “The operation you have attempted is illegal and has been reported to HMRC Security !” ? The blathering reassurances only make it worse. Peter HOAR

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