VA barred from publicizing offer to vets

[BoarSpear]

VA barred from publicizing offer to vets

By HOPE YEN, Associated Press Writer Mon Jun 26, 12:04 AM ET

WASHINGTON - A federal judge temporarily has barred the government from publicizing its free credit monitoring offer to veterans whose personal data was stolen and wants to see if they might get a better federal offer.


Lawyers who have filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of the 26.5 million veterans and active-duty troops affected contend that accepting the government's offer could jeopardize their chance of winning more money in the privacy suit.

U.S. District Judge William Bertelsman in Kentucky scheduled a hearing this Friday to determine whether the Veterans Affairs Department should revise its offer. His order on the credit monitoring was issued late last Friday.

The suit seeks free monitoring and other credit protection for an indefinite period as well as $1,000 in damages for each person — or up to $26.5 billion total — in what has become one of the nation's largest information security breaches.

Last week, the department announced its plan to offer free monitoring for a year to millions of veterans and nearly all active-duty military troops whose names, birthdates and
Social Security numbers were stolen May 3 from a VA data analyst's home in suburban Maryland.

The department said it would send out letters to affected veterans and military personnel in early August — after it solicits bids from contractors — on how to sign up for the free service. It also posted information on the government's Web site.

But in court papers, lawyers for veterans said the VA's deal was "incomplete and misleading." The VA must make clear whether veterans who take the government deal will have to give up their rights in court to a potentially larger payout, lawyer Marc Mezibov wrote.

A spokesman for the VA did not have an immediate comment Sunday.

Last week, a Senate committee approved $160 million to pay for the credit monitoring for veterans. It is one of many expected payments as the government struggles with fallout from data breaches crossing at least six agencies.

The VA alone has spent more than $14 million so far to notify veterans by letter and set up a call center, and it is spending an additional $200,000 a day to maintain the call center.

Class-action suits filed by veterans alleging privacy violations are pending in Covington, Ky., and Washington, D.C.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060626/ap_on_go_ot/vets_data_theft_4

[Blue Wave Gym]

wow

I got my notification from the V.A. like 2 weeks ago, and was pissed, but I didn't know you could sue uncle sam over identity theft LOL.

[BoarSpear]

I got my notification from the V.A. like 2 weeks ago, and was pissed, but I didn't know you could sue uncle sam over identity theft LOL.

Oh yeah!! This is gonna get interesting:

[Hardball]

I got my letter two weeks ago also.

[BoarSpear]

I got my letter two weeks ago also.

We all got the letter, just another wy of thanking us for our service.

[Hardball]

We all got the letter, just another wy of thanking us for our service.

Yea, but I've been out close to 25 years. I didn't think they still had me on file. LOL The Va keeps good records?

[BoarSpear]

Yea, but I've been out close to 25 years. I didn't think they still had me on file. LOL The Va keeps good records?

Arent you comforted your records were on some idjits laptop in his home that was unencrypted...25 years after you got out? just imagine how much that good record keeping helps you now....ever notice when YOU need you file, they cant ever fuckin find it! so we all have an "illegal" copy of our own....but this jackass has ALL our records on his one single laptop?

[Hardball]

Arent you comforted your records were on some idjits laptop in his home that was unencrypted...25 years after you got out? just imagine how much that good record keeping helps you now....ever notice when YOU need you file, they cant ever fuckin find it! so we all have an "illegal" copy of our own....but this jackass has ALL our records on his one single laptop?

LMAO...................

[BoarSpear]

VA chief: Agency can be 'model for information security'

WASHINGTON (AP) — Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson promised Congress Tuesday he could turn his agency into a "model for information security" but said lawmakers are going to have to be patient.

Nicholson also said the Bush administration was asking for at least $160.5 million in emergency funds for credit counseling and other measures to protect veterans and military troops whose sensitive personal information was stolen.

Besides covering credit monitoring for about half of the 17.5 million people whose Social Security numbers were compromised, the money would pay for out-of-pocket expenses for those whose identities are stolen, he told a House panel.

But under questioning, Nicholson acknowledged that much more money may be needed to revamp information security at the VA and other agencies. He also left the door open to providing veterans more than one year of free monitoring following the May 3 burglary at a VA data analyst's home.

"Unfortunately, a very bad thing happened," Nicholson told a House Appropriations subcommittee. "I am outraged by it and the slow response of some of my otherwise very good subordinates. But I am the responsible person, and it is to me that you are entitled to look."

"I think we can turn VA into the model for information security," he added. "I will not try to mislead you and delude. This will not be easy and it will not be overnight."

Of the $160.5 million, Nicholoson said, about $29 million will be taken from VA funds budgeted in 2006 to cover personnel costs at the Veterans Benefit Administration. That money would not have otherwise been used in 2006 due to hiring plans that had been already pushed back to 2007, he added. The other $131.5 million would be reallocated from other areas of the White House budget.

"It will take some belt tightening. It will not come out of veterans' benefits," he said.

No reports of identity theft have been reported in connection with the May 3 theft of a computer from the data analyst's home in suburban Maryland. The laptop contained names, birth dates and Social Security numbers for up to 26.5 million people.

Last week, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved $160 million in emergency funds to pay for credit monitoring. It is one of many expected payments as the government struggles with fallout from data thefts and other breaches now crossing at least six agencies, including the Pentagon, Agriculture Department and Federal Trade Commission.

Earlier in the hearing, the House panel was urged to spend whatever necessary to avoid undue hardships for victims of data thefts at government agencies.

David McIntyre, president and CEO of TriWest health care Alliance, which provides information security to the Pentagon, proposed creating a central government "nerve center" to assist agencies after any such security breach.

"Unfortunately, as we have all come to realize, the question is not whether another incident of information theft will occur but when," he said. "Events such as these are happening with increased regularity — and, surely, spending a few million to prepare is preferable to spending hundreds of millions to react.

In his testimony, Nicholson called the burglary a "wake-up call" that should not come at the expense of veterans, who have challenged the free monitoring in federal court as potentially inadequate. He said about half of the affected veterans were expected to take the government's offer.

Rep. James Walsh, chairman of the House subcommittee, chastised the VA for waiting three weeks to notify veterans about the theft. "This represents a significant lapse of time that could have been vital to protect identity theft," said Walsh, R-N.Y.

Rep. Chet Edwards, the top Democrat on the panel, agreed. "Clearly this is a serious problem that Congress needs to partner in solving," said Edwards, D-Tex.

The VA announced last week it would offer free credit monitoring for a year to millions of veterans and troops. It said it would send out letters in early August — after it solicits bids from contractors — on how to sign up for the free service.

But lawyers for veterans, calling the VA's deal "incomplete and misleading," said the VA must make clear whether veterans will have to give up their rights in court to a potentially larger payout.

U.S. District Judge William Bertelsman in Kentucky scheduled a hearing for Friday to determine whether the VA should revise its offer. Until then, he has barred the VA from publicizing its free credit monitoring offer to veterans.

The class-action lawsuits, which are pending in Covington, Ky., and Washington seek free monitoring and other credit protection for an indefinite period as well as $1,000 in damages for each person — or up to $26.5 billion total — in what has become one of the nation's largest information security breaches.

Acknowledging the lawsuit Tuesday, Nicholson also said the VA might expand its credit monitoring beyond a year.

"If a year expires, we have a responsibility to determine whether to renew based on what we know at the time," he said.

Veterans groups and lawmakers from both parties have criticized the VA about the theft and noted years of warnings by auditors that information security was lax. The data analyst — who was in the process of being dismissed — had taken the information home on a personal laptop for three years.

...............................................

"whoa we fukked up really badly...ooooooppps" ....."but we will reorganize and be the best ever" Hmmm now where have I heard this before? Oh yeah every freakin agency has the same response

[Tant01]

Comfort and privacy!

We all got the letter, just another wy of thanking us for our service.:...:

Arent you comforted your records were on some idjits laptop in his home that was unencrypted...25 years after you got out? just imagine how much that good record keeping helps you now....ever notice when YOU need you file, they cant ever fuckin find it! so we all have an "illegal" copy of our own....but this jackass has ALL our records on his one single laptop?

Nice to know we are such a priority to our government, eh?