May 3, 2005

Time Warner has said that it lost data tapes containing personal information (including Social Security numbers) on 600,000 current and former employees plus their dependents and beneficiaries, as well as contractors. The tapes went missing while being transported to a third-party storage facility. According to the N.Y. Times, the 40 tapes were in a container the size of a cooler, and the company does not rule out foul play. Although similar tape losses have occured recently at Bank of America and Ameritrade, the Time Warner situation is the biggest by far. Time Warner is notifying affected individuals and asking them to monitor their credit reports for possible identity theft.

Here are the Links

The CNET Article

The USA Today Article

The Wired.com / AP Article