Laptop bought on eBay contained “highly confidential” Home Office disk
February 28, 2008 | Leave a Comment
A laptop reportedly purchased through eBay contained a CD marked “Home Office - highly confidential”* under the keyboard and above the circuit board. The purchaser brought the computer to Leapfrog Computers in Westhoughton (UK) for repair where the technician discovered the encrypted compact disc.
Source: The Breach Blog
*”The Home Office is the government department responsible for leading the national effort to protect the public from terrorism, crime and anti-social behaviour.” - Source Home Office About Us page
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/about-us/
More:
Leapfrog Discovers Home Office Laptop
27 Feb 2008
Counter terrorism police are investigating the discovery of a Home Office laptop and encrypted data disc found by Leapfrog - apparently bought on eBay.
Sky News Home Affairs correspondent Mark White said: “The Home Office has confirmed to me that it is investigating the recovery of a confidential data disc. On Tuesday afternoon a man took a laptop into a computer shop in the Manchester area to try to get it repaired and they found an encrypted disc.”
Leapfrog’s Managing Director, Lee Bevan told Sky News: “This seemed just another IT repair. The customer said he had bought it on eBay and seemed quite innocent. It is just an ordinary laptop. It was only when we opened up the keyboard that we found the disc - it had the words Home Office and Confidential written all over it. We put it in the safe and contacted the police in London. They have been here most of the day examining the items and speaking to staff.”
In a statement, the Home Office said: “We can confirm that encrypted IT equipment has been handed in to Greater Manchester Police. Both the laptop and disc were encrypted, thus safeguarding the information stored on them. An investigation is now underway and it would be inappropriate to comment any further.”
