Data Loss Source: Texas-based Electronic Data Systems Corp., which has a contract with the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services, sent mailings to 260,000 Wisconsin residents. The problem? The brochures included the recipients’ Social Security number on the address label. The mailing was done on behalf of the state Department of Health and Family Services and was sent to Medicaid, SeniorCare and BadgerCare members.
Date of Loss: January 9, 2008
Size of Loss: 260,000
Affected Individuals: Wisconsin residents
Geographic Focus: Madison, WI
Data contained: Social Security numbers
Additional Notes: The mailing problem marks the second time in 13 months that letters including the recipients’ Social Security numbers on address labels were sent from state departments. In December 2006, a vendor hired by the state Department of Revenue mailed 171,000 tax booklets with the number printed on the label.
Additional Information: Forbes.com

Data Loss Source: An Air Force band member at Bolling Air Force Base has reported a laptop, containing personal data on 10,501 Air Force members missing from his home.
Date of Loss: January 3, 2008
Size of Loss: 10,501
Affected Individuals: Active and retired Air Force members
Geographic Focus: Washington, DC
Data contained: Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses, and telephone numbers.
Additional Notes: All affected airmen — 10,001 retirees and 500 active-duty airmen — were notified of the situation in a Dec. 13 letter from Col Kurt F. Neubauer, commander of the 11th Wing at Bolling, according to a base spokesman.
Additional Information: AirForceTimes.com

Data Loss Source: Thieves broke into Davidson County Election Commission offices on the weekend before Christmas, smashing a window with a rock and then making off with a $3,000 router, a digital camera, and a pair of Dell Latitude laptops containing names and Social Security numbers of all 337,000 registered voters in the county.
Date of Loss: December 22, 2007
Size of Loss: 337,000
Affected Individuals: Davidson County registered voters
Geographic Focus: Nashville, TN
Data contained: Names and Social Security numbers
Additional Notes: The theft is expected to cost local officials about $1 million as they roll out identity-theft protection to those affected.
Additional Information: InfoWorld

Data Loss Source: Personal information on about 650,000 customers of J.C. Penney and up to 100 other retailers could be compromised after a computer tape went missing. GE Money, which handles credit card operations for Penney and various other retailers, said that the missing information includes Social Security numbers for about 150,000 people.
Date of Loss: January 15, 2008
Size of Loss: 650,000
Affected Individuals: Credit card holders
Geographic Focus: United States
Data contained: Names, addresses, and Social Security numbers.
Additional Information: Associated Press

Data Loss Source: The Minnesota Department of Commerce says a laptop containing the personal information of hundreds of Minnesotans has been stolen in Philadelphia.
Date of Loss: December 28, 2007
Size of Loss: 219
Affected Individuals: Minnesota residents
Geographic Focus: Minnesota
Data contained: The names, addresses, Social Security numbers and state license data of 219 Minnesotans were on the laptop.
Additional Notes: The data was stored on an employee’s computer hard drive, which was protected by a password but lacked more sophisticated encryption.
Additional Information: Minnesota Public Radio