WASHINGTON ING FINANCIAL PRESSURED BY GOVERNMENT TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT SECURITY UPGRADES OR LOSE CONTRACT http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0606/337694.html

ING Criticized for Lack of Security on Stolen Laptop

WASHINGTON (AP) - A D.C. Council member says the company that administers the city's retirement plan must make significant security upgrades or lose its contract.ING Financial Services is being criticized after a laptop containing the personal data of about 13,000 D.C. workers was stolen from the home of an ING employee.

The computer wasn't encrypted or password protected, angering D.C. Council member Jim Graham. He's calling the lack of security "startling" and says it raises serious doubts about ING.

A spokeswoman for the office of the city's chief financial officer says D.C.'s contract with ING expires in December and the CFO can recommend whether to renew it.

The laptop theft was reported June 12th, but ING officials say they waited five days to inform the city in order to determine what information was on the computer.

WEB-Blog Editor Comment: This is an example of the pressure that Government is going to put on corporations to better protect Data from theft. There will be no way around it. Comply or lose the business.