Computer containing airline ticketing info stolen

[InfoSec News <isn () c4i org>]

http://www.computerworld.com/securitytopics/security/story/0,10801,89062,00.html

Story by Linda Rosencrance 
JANUARY 14, 2004 
COMPUTERWORLD

Airlines Reporting Corp. (ARC), an airline-owned financial transaction
processing company, said yesterday that two computers, one of which
contained airline ticketing data, have been stolen.  It wasn't clear
where the computers were taken from, or when, and the Arlington,
Va.-based company offered few details about the theft.

In a statement, ARC said that its information so far indicates that
the theft of the computers, as well as one computer monitor and a
projector, were simple property thefts. "To date, no misuse of data
has been reported to ARC," the company said.

ARC said it "has made the appropriate notifications commensurate with
the theft and that, as a result, the necessary steps are being taken."

Although the stolen equipment was used in important support functions,
it wasn't fundamental to the company's operations, ARC said.

The company said it isn't in a position to provide further details
about the theft because of an ongoing investigation by law enforcement
officials. ARC spokesman Allan Muten confirmed that the company
wouldn't comment about the incident beyond the statement posted on its
Web site.

Jason Schechter, a spokesman for UAL Corp.'s United Air Lines Inc.,
said that his airline had data on the computer. "We have worked with
ARC and the credit card companies to ensure we have all the
information necessary to convey to our customers," he said. "We've
also given our employees information about what happened ... and what
to tell our customers."

Schechter said United hasn't gotten any complaints from customers
about the misuse of any personal information that might have been on
the stolen computer.

Northwest Airlines Inc. also had customer data on the stolen computer,
according to company spokesman Kurt Ebenhoch. Like United, Northwest
hasn't received any information that customers' personal data has been
misused.

Delta Air Lines Inc. and AMR Corp's American Airlines Inc. also
confirmed that the stolen computer contained some of their customer
data.

Reuters contributed to this report.



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