The Daily Outrage: Aug. 7, 2008

Lifted laptop: Travelers’ information put in jeopardy

WHO: Verified Identity Pass Inc.

WHAT: The company runs Clear, a program that allows paying participants to use special lanes to avoid the wait at airport security screenings. An unsecured laptop stolen from the company’s office at San Francisco International Airport contained names and information about 33,000 people. The Transportation Security Administration suspended new enrollments in the Clear program while the investigation continues.

WHY THEY’RE DOING IT: The laptop did reappear in the same office from which it had gone missing, but the TSA is not taking any chances about the compromised information.

WHY IT’S A BAD IDEA: Leaving a laptop with unencrypted information about people is bad. Having that type of information go missing from a company that helps screen passengers for airline travel is even worse.

WHERE TO VENT: You can contact the TSA, which is in charge of security at airports, at by calling (866) 289-9673 or by e-mailing TSA-ContactCenter@dhs.gov.

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