Stolen VA Laptop Contains Personal Data

The Department of Veterans Affairs has suffered another possible breach of private data as a thief recently stole an unencrypted laptop that had held the social security numbers and other information of 616 veterans.

Although the VA hasn't found evidence that the data itself has been breached, the theft of the laptop, which was owned by a contractor and not the VA, highlights organizations' need to work closely with contractors on cybersecurity issues.

That need was also spotlighted last year when reports emerged that hackers had stolen sensitive data about the Pentagon's $300 billion Joint Strike Fighter's electronics systems that had been hosted on contractors' networks.