Missing data, another thing?

[Loosehead]

a) Why could it possibly be necessary to copy the data onto a couple of CD's? We have spent a billion quid on government computer systems in recent years surely they could sent the stuff electronically.
b) Even if you are going to copy it, how come some numpty with sh1t for brains has the access?
c) if it did needed to be copiied and sent why not send it via courier from A to B?
Even though I'm a Tory I don't blame the government I blame the civil service but sh1t will stick to the governement. Old Gordy must be wondering when something's going to go right!

[jno]

Emu, I'm not clear what the policy actually is, but Darling admits it was broken:

The chancellor said the official had broken the rules by downloading the data to disc and sending it by unrecorded delivery.

[Gromit]

The loss of the CDs by a low ranking junior officer is unfortunate.

What I find more astonishing is that the data was not copy protected or it seems password protected.

Copy protected means that only authorised personel can moved, copy or alter the database.

[Emu2005]

Thanks jno - but still, wouldn't all courier deliveries be recorded somehow? They must be able to trace it with the courier company - who was working that day, in that area etc. etc.

or did he just buy a stamp and stick it in a post box!

[squarebear]

Gromit - The data was password protected.

[youngmafbog]

Well I've just spent the last few months trying to send a file over secure ftp to a govt dept. Let me just say I hope never to have to do that again, give me the private sector any day.

I expect the data is compressed plus the record length of each record is not that long name/address/dob/NI number/Child benefit number so probably not as big as it would initially appear. This coupled with the fact that the term CD is often interchangeable with the word DVD in non IT cirlces perahps explains it.

As for password protected, whats the betting it was good old WinZip, google that and you'll soon have a cracker !

Darling can't be to blame, cost cutting was propogated down for the last Chancellor - hey our good old PM !!

Last laugh, seems Gordy's details were on there too as he claims child benefit ! hahaha

[sandbach99]

Why did the National Aucit Office request this information in the first place?

If they wanted to know how many child benefit claims there were surely a number could have been sent, I can see no reason for details of names, addresses and bank details being sent.

[I.Don No]

my advice is dont believe all you hear and believe only half of what you see.....

governments never do anything underhand do they? *coughs and splutters*

I am with a previous poster in that the junior chap/chapess would have only been following the office protocol in such matters.....�7m a day on a war that we should never have been involved in and the government couldn't afford to send the data via a secure courier..........

I wonder what else went wrong at the same time and got buried by this news..........

[mushroom25]

- "wouldn't all courier deliveries be recorded somehow..."

our company sent 3 radio transmitters by courier from Birmingham to Basingstoke. The day after they were collected we tried finding out where they were using the "tracker" number. No record. We pursued this all through the company from their birmingham depot right to destination depot. there was no record of them ever having been collected, yet we saw the man take them and put them on the truck. so they were lost & the couriers told us to fill out a claim form.

In fact, we found out later, they were delivered the next day & the couriers didn't know.