Office laptop removal ban after thefts
THE UK's 500,000 civil servants have been told not to remove unencrypted laptops from their offices following revelations of a series of thefts – including one in Edinburgh.
Defence Secretary Des Browne yesterday revealed that a laptop containing unencrypted details of around 500 people was stolen from an Army careers office in Edinburgh.
The breach, which happened in December 2005, only came to light after another laptop which carried personal data on 600,000 people was stolen from a Royal Navy recruiting office in Birmingham.
The news prompted Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell to instigate the ban on Whitehall officials removing laptops from their offices.
In an email to top civil servants yesterday evening, Sir Gus said: "From now on, no unencrypted laptops or drives containing personal data should be taken outside secured office premises.
"Please ensure that this is communicated throughout your organisation and delivery bodies and implemented immediately, and that steps are taken to monitor compliance."
Email to a friend
Print this page- Scottish independence: I don’t want ‘separatism’ says Sir Tom Farmer
- Mystery after body discovered near West Highland Way
- The Rumour Mill: Monday’s football news and gossip
- Leveson inquiry: Tony Blair defends links with Rupert Murdoch
- Abu Qatada case stalls again but Olympics mean he must stay in prison
- Scottish independence: I don’t want ‘separatism’ says Sir Tom Farmer
- The Rumour Mill: Monday’s football news and gossip
- Jim McColl may back Scottish independence if third option omitted
- Craig Levein insists Scotland will recover from US thrashing
- James McPake set for Coventry talks as Hibs wait in wings
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Edinburgh
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 9 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 9 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
