I haven't played with PGP security, but I've been told it's not terribly difficult to use. It's absolutely ridiculous to be storing such sensitive data completely unencrypted when there's so many options.  That's like someone refusing to lock the doors because 'key technology is too much bother to learn'.

There's not a facepalm meme image big enough for something like the NASA situation.

"So why should they be punished for mistakes they haven't made on purpose?"

OpenSSH is freely available and used in the private sector all the time. Many of the insurance and financial companies I deal with require it for personal data transfers. Government entities should be exempt? I don't think so.

The encryption does take a little time, but not appreciably more than tarring or zipping the files for transfer. If you deal with personal data, these are avoidable mistakes and they can be ruinous to many people. Would you say somebody who runs over another person with a car, by mistake, shouldn't be held responsible?

Kim, your article and points are excellent.

Having worked in aerospace a number of years ago, it is very true that NASA and the Government do extensive checks for security clearance.  Having recognized the value of security, one would think that it would extend to the safeguarding of data!  Your article should be shared with all State/Federal agencies.

The loose security we provide for data needs to end.  Your recommendation of standards for encryption would go a long way to managing that data effectively.

You get my vote!

DHagar

I'd need to look the story up, but I think there were issues with data retention.  Certainly, the wholesale removal of hard drives by a Governor's staff was unprecedented.

Actually, that is a state law that allows that to happen.

The practice continues to this day whenever someone leaves a state post.  The woman lab worker under investigation for tampering with case evidence at the state crime lab was allowed to take her hard drive when she resigned.

Even as the criminal investigation into her activities continues.

That's very interesting, Thread, thanks.

I know we don't really have Mitt Romney to kick around any more, but I guess nobody ever was held accountable in Massachusetts for that extraordinary incident where Romney staff members were allowed to "buy" their hard drives from the Massachusetts government, and then destroy them.

Hounhosp, I think pushing for all data to be encrypted is going to run into cost issues.  But it shouldn't be difficult to define sets of data which require encryption.  One would hope that classified data is encrypted by federal agencies already.  Data like social security numbers, password records, credit card information, and -- yes -- HR records, should be encrypted too.

Doubtless there are mountains of data which are not sensitive at all.

@Bolingbroke

I've heard that story as well. I wonder how the pigeons where able to reach their intended destination. I hope not all of them ended their journey into a chimney. :D

But the way the laws are written companies in the private sector are Punished.  Companies and individuals responsible that make honest mistakes are fined, can be sued and can be jailed.

The sad part is, from what I have seen, when a data breach happens in the government it is almost always negligence that led to it.  Rookie mistakes being made by people who should know better.  Largely because they do sloppy work with no compliance pressure to keep them focused.

Irony for sure to read that code found in a chimney attached to a  World War II  carrier pigeon is according to experts unbreakable.