Oops! That Was Dumb, Eh?

LONDON, Ont. - A memory stick containing the records of 4,500 kids has gone missing from a speech and hearing clinic at UWO, a thumb-sized example of how ever-smaller digital technology is heightening security risks.

Included among the records on the tiny storage device are 11 years worth of names, addresses, phone numbers, birthdates, doctor information, school and child-care information.  Also on the stick are 142 OHIP numbers.

The privacy breach should "never, ever, ever" have happened, said Ontario's information and privacy commissioner.

The clinic waited around two months before deciding to contact parents and employees.  Even more disturbing than their children's medical information being in a stranger's hands is the fact that they were not made aware immediately.   That is what takes a simple mistake and escalates it to unforgivable.

There are a million products that can keep your data secure.  The fatal flaw is that any system is only as strong as their weakest link.  You can have titanium Rambos and pirate ninja assassins every three feet, but it just takes one idiot who thinks they are smarter than the rules to bring it down.  The larger the institution, the more chances for an idiot to emerge.