Privacy & Security Failure to encrypt data leads to U.K. criticism Tash Shifrin @itworldca Published: November 29th, 2007In a parliamentary debate over HM Revenue and Customs loss of 25 million people’s records, opposition MPs have attacked the government’s failure to encrypt sensitive data on members of the public. The HMRC data loss occurred when unencrypted data on two CDs, including names, addresses, bank details and other confidential information on child benefit claimants and their children, was lost in transit to the National Audit Office.In a stormy debate in the Commons, Liberal Democrat MP John Hemming — who has a background in IT and data security — said one of the biggest problems with the HMRC breach was that data was “not encrypted, but merely password-protected”.He asked: “Why, therefore, has the department not said that while the review continues, any data discs should be sent out in an encrypted manner? Merely having a sign-off from a senior manager would not prevent exactly what has happened from happening again.”Acting Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable followed up, warning that the lost data, if it fell into the hands of criminals would be worth “aroundWould you recommend this article?00 Thanks for taking the time to let us know what you think of this article! We'd love to hear your opinion about this or any other story you read in our publication. Click this link to send me a note →Jim Love, Chief Content Officer, IT World Canada Related Download Sponsor: CanadianCIO Cybersecurity Conversations with your Board – A Survival Guide A SURVIVAL GUIDE BY CLAUDIO SILVESTRI, VICE-PRESIDENT AND CIO, NAV CANADA Download Now Privacy & Security encrypt