as long as the social security card is used as the national id this stuff will continue to happen

http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AZ_HONEYWELL_DATA_LEAK_AZOL-?SITE=AZMES&SECTION=STATE&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2006-02-03-11-24-58

Feb 3, 11:24 AM EST

Personal information from 19,000 Honeywell workers compromised

PHOENIX (AP) -- A former computer systems analyst at Honeywell International in Phoenix is accused of obtaining personal information from 19,000 company workers and posting it on the internet.

Honeywell filed a civil complaint in federal court this week naming former employee Howard Nugent and accusing him of hacking into company computers and obtaining social security numbers, bank account and direct deposit information about 19,000 Phoenix-area Honeywell employees.

A federal judge issued a restraining order against Nugent on Thursday, but the document was sealed. Nugent could not be reached for comment.

Honeywell contacted workers shortly after the breach was discovered and offered to provide identity-theft insurance. But employees didn't learn until later whether their information was online.

"For the first few days, we didn't know who was affected," said Dale Mukavetz, an engineer who works at the company's Phoenix aerospace plant.

He said many employees hurried to close bank accounts and open new ones to accept payroll direct deposits.

Mukavetz said he was relieved that employees' 401(k) information wasn't posted.

"That would have been a disaster," he said.

Honeywell attorney William Maledon said Nugent left the company in 2003, but would not say under what terms. Honeywell discovered the security breach Jan. 20.

Honeywell, based in Morristown, N.J., employs 120,000 people worldwide. The company's aerospace division is based in Phoenix.

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0203honeywell03.html

Honeywell IDs source of workers' data leak

Max Jarman The Arizona Republic Feb. 3, 2006 12:00 AM

Honeywell International has identified a former computer systems analyst in the company's Phoenix office as the source of a massive leak of personal information about 19,000 current and former employees.

A civil complaint, filed this week in U.S. District Court in Phoenix, alleges that Howard Nugent hacked into the company's computers and obtained confidential information about Honeywell's Phoenix-area employees. The stolen data, including Social Security numbers and bank account and direct-deposit information, were then posted on the Internet. The security breach was discovered Jan. 20.

"He wanted to get back at the company, but the people who got hurt were the employees," said an engineer at Honeywell's plant at 34th and Washington streets in Phoenix who asked that his name not be used. "Everyone I know at my plant was a victim."

The federal court issued a restraining order against Nugent on Thursday, but the document was sealed and not made public. Nugent could not be reached for comment, and Honeywell spokeswoman Victoria Streitfeld said the company had no further comment.

The posting of the information online put employees' identities at risk of being stolen by criminals and used to fraudulently make purchases, obtain credit and steal cash and other assets.

The Valley's transient population and rampant methamphetamine use has made it a hot spot for identity theft. In 2004, metropolitan Phoenix had the highest per capita rate of identity theft in the nation.

Andres Esquer, a spokeswoman for Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard, said that the case could lead to criminal charges against Nugent but that the theft would have to first be reported to a law enforcement agency. "It's up to Honeywell," she said.

Honeywell attorney William Maledon said Nugent left the company in 2003, but Maledon would not say under what terms.

Honeywell notified employees shortly after the breach was discovered and offered to provide identity-theft insurance. But employees didn't learn until later whether their information was online.

"For the first few days, we didn't know who was affected," said Dale Mukavetz, an engineer who also works at the Washington Street plant.

When they found out, employees rushed to existing bank accounts and opened new ones to accept payroll direct deposits.

Mukavetz said he was relieved that employees' 401(k) information wasn't posted.

"That would have been a disaster," he said.

Honeywell spokesman Robert Ferris said the company quickly had the Web page removed and has been monitoring to ensure that it does not reappear.

In a Jan. 24 letter to employees, the company offered to provide fraud protection of up to $25,000 for a year and to monitor credit reports for a similar period.

"That made us feel better about it," Mukavetz said.

Honeywell's complaint charges Nugent with, among other things, breach of contract and computer fraud and asks he be barred from further misuse of the information and pay unspecified damages.

Based in Morristown, N.J., industrial and aerospace giant Honeywell employs about 120,000 people worldwide, including 13,400 in Arizona, where the company's aerospace division is based.

Reach the reporter (602) 444-7351.


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