It has been reported that CONFIDENTIAL details of some of Scotland’s most vulnerable people were leaked online by an organisation meant to protect their welfare. The names, emails, phone numbers and computer addresses of around 50 people across the country were obtainable on the website of the Scottish Appropriate Adult Network (SAAN). Mark James, Security Specialist at ESET commented below.
Mark James, Security Specialist at ESET:
“Data sadly comes in many forms- some is worth money, some is worth notoriety and some is worthless and for the average person, we find it hard to actually understand the real implications of data leaks impacting our very lives.
Of course if its financial data or the usual personal data, then spam calls or dodgy emails are a real pain- even changing financial info can be time consuming and something we could do without. But when that data is so personal it can actually change how you live, or even raise concerns over your safety, then that crosses the line between an inconvenience and potentially life threatening.
For companies that are charged with keeping that data safe, there must be stricter rules and regulations to ensure that the means used for storing and protecting that data, must exceed those used for “ordinary” data.
How can we determine what data is more sensitive that others, is it even possible? Each case is different, but if actual harm could come from this type of data making itself public we need to do more to protect it in the first place.”
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