IRS loses hundreds of laptops, fails its own audit »
Posted by: TechnologyExpert 1 year, 4 months agoOver the past few years, the Internal Revenue Service has lost several hundred laptops according to a new report from the IRS Inspector General J. Russell George. Between 2003 and Feb 2006, the IRS lost nearly 500 laptops mostly from agents' homes and cars. In addition, 111 of those laptops were either lost or stolen right from IRS offices.
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ciera-marie1 year, 4 months ago
"In addition, 111 of those laptops were either lost or stolen right from IRS offices.
The report criticizes agents for leaving unencrypted taxpayer data on the laptops and for failing to inform the affected taxpayers about the data theft, something major corporations are mandated to do by various state and federal laws. "The Internal Revenue Service is not adequately protecting taxpayer data on laptop computers," says the report.
A typical IRS laptop would have around 10 to 25 active tax cases, but some of the more "gung-ho" agents could have several dozen cases stored on their laptops."
Umm, Hello? This is serious. Imagine if your case happens to be on one of those laptops. Talk about giving the fox the keys to the chicken coop. Not only is it your identity, your spouse's and childrens. God I'm ill.
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TechnologyExpert1 year, 4 months ago
Interestingly, most of the new laptops that come from major manufacturers have the capability of using Absolute Software's Computrace LoJack Laptops built into the BIOS. All they have to do is turn it on (whether it be one of those IRS laptops, or a hospital laptop, or a VA laptop) and pay for it.
So none of these losses that threaten to expose personal information should be as dire as they are ... if the IT depts used these services.
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joeblowe1 year, 4 months ago
I'm wondering what that costs... is it MORE than the replacement cost of the laptop? 1/2? I suppose in THIS particular type of instance it doesn't matter. If IRS agents are going to be allowed to put citizen's personal data on a portable device, it should absolutely be secured. And I DON'T mean by telling them, "now, don't lose this one..."
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evelyna1 year, 4 months ago
They do not lose things. They are just sitting on someone's desk.
If they keep losing them it is not your responsibility to monitor their filing system.
The government organizations and credit card companies claim to have no accountibility. That is a lie.
A tax attorney does not agree.
Also send them certified or someone has to sign for. No one loses this.
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joeblowe1 year, 4 months ago
You left out BANKS. Banks now claim to have no liability either. Now, if you go into a bank with a valid check written by someone who has money in that bank and ask them to honor it -- they might actually REFUSE unless YOU have an account there. It's absolutely preposterous. And, they will also claim they no longer have to check signatures against a signature card, either - not their fault if they pay out a forged check. I think the problem is that once you put YOUR money into their bank, they think it becomes THEIR money.
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paulzimmerman1 year, 4 months ago
end organized crime... abolish the irs... :>)
yes, and do ask them about the privacy act of 1974 which
requires ALL federal government agencies to keep ALL personal data collected via a privacy statement on individuals secure and confidential...
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ABANOCLA1 year, 4 months ago
The supreme court has ruled 8 times I believe it is that taxation on a mans or womans work to be unlawful 8 times, and yet we still pay and will be paying more in the near future
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ghengisghan1 year, 4 months ago
I'll go with just about all of the ABOVE...freakin thieves, steal from us , steal from US!
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JenMurdock1 year, 4 months ago
If we the people were as irresponsible as most govt employees, this country would still be in the stone age. HA HA HA.
Why do incompetents and liars strive to get into public positions....
Or, why do all these govt types take their lap tops HOME all the time? So people can STEAL THEM? They aren't working at home I'm SURE....
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lizbethxq1 year, 4 months ago
You know, it reminds me of that saying, people in glass houses should not throw stones. I cannot believe this is true. It's kind of funny. We need a branch of government to audit the IRS.
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JohnnyB1 year, 4 months ago
hah they should pay a fine to everyone in the United States, ****** hypocrits
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