Stolen RAF vice files spark blackmail fear

[Jon Turner <jjturner () gmail com>]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/may/24/raf-military-files-stolen-blackmail

more details on incident
http://datalossdb.org/incidents/1166-data-on-raf-staff-missing-from-base

Sensitive files detailing the extra marital affairs, drug taking and
use of prostitutes by very senior officers in the RAF have been
stolen, raising fears within the Ministry of Defence that personnel
could be vulnerable to blackmail.

Up to 500 people in the service could be affected by the theft. They
have been interviewed individually about the possible consequences to
them and to their families.

The potentially damaging information was stored on three computer hard
drives that went missing from RAF Innsworth, Gloucestershire, last
September. The files were not encrypted, so could be opened easily.
The RAF disclosed the loss of the hard drives two weeks after they
went missing, revealing only that the bank details and home addresses
of 50,000 servicemen and women were on the computers.

It kept secret the fact that the "vetting" information about 500 staff
had also disappeared. The defence secretary at the time, Des Browne,
was not told, nor was Sir Richard Thomas, the then information
commissioner. The details were also withheld from parliament.

....
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