Two Weeks After It Sued the CIA, Data Is Stolen from the University of Washington's Center for Human Rights

Two Weeks After It Sued the CIA, Data Is Stolen from the University of Washington's Center for Human Rights ( thestranger.com )

submitted 2015-10-29T22:42 by salvia_d

5 comments

badp4nd4 2015-10-30T01:39

"Her desktop computer was stolen, as well as a hard drive containing about 90 percent of the information relating to our research in El Salvador," the center said in a statement today.

I don't know if this is ineptitude or incompetence. Physical security is one of 7 major pillars of IT security and storing critical data on servers that are backed up offsite is a basic principle. Server rooms are much easier to protect via cameras, locks or whatever level of security you need than individual offices. In addition, it allows you to use a man trap, armed security guards and vault like protections. You never, ever, store data on a desktop that could experience hard disk failure at any time or be stolen.

Whole story sounds shady as f.

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salvia_d 2015-10-30T03:01

They said they had the data saved. What they are concerned about is sensitive data falling into the wrong hands, i.e. the CIA.

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badp4nd4 2015-10-30T03:48

That's basically the core of my point, you don't save important data on desktops, laptops, mobiles or anything that can die by media failure or be stolen.

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salvia_d 2015-10-30T16:26

If it's a working project you have to save it to the hard drive, how else are you going to work on it. I realize what your saying, but your only other choice would be cloud but that doesn't keep it secure at all.

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badp4nd4 2015-10-30T16:36

You absolutely do not have to save it to the local hard disk.

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