In the beginning of September, a group of computer hackers calling themselves AntiSec announced that they had stolen a file containing unique identification data for 12,367,232 Apple iOS devices. They claimed the database was stolen from the compromised laptop of an FBI agent. Simultaneous to AntiSec’s release, the FBI denied the claim. To substantiate their claim, AntiSec released one million of the unique identifiers minus the personal data embedded in the stolen file.
My reaction to this obscure story is: what was highly confidential data doing on a laptop computer, and why weren’t there security measures in place within the laptop to prevent the theft? It seems that every day there is another incident reported in the media of data being stolen or computer networks compromised. The problem persists even though companies spend millions of dollars every year to curtail the theft and breach of their virtual systems.