Is the state setting you up for identity theft?

More on that in a moment on the Face The State Radio Minute.

A recent audit calls out the state’s drivers license agency for its lax attitude toward data security. The vast majority of adults have a license, or at the very least, an ID card issued by the state. To get that little piece of plastic, we hand over a huge amount of personal information to the government, which you’d like to think would be kept under wraps.

But that might not always happen, and the department’s executive director says it’s because – no surprise here – she doesn’t have enough money. But some of the problems identified have more to do with a lack of determination, not funds. Over thirty former state employees still had access to license data after moving jobs. Also, personal data wasn’t encrypted when sent around to various offices. This is 2008 – we all know how important computer security is.

The state’s lax controls unnecessarily put all of us at risk for identity theft.

For FaceTheState.com, I’m Brad Jones.