INDIANA (UPDATE) OUTRAGE OVER LATEST VA SECURITY BREACH WISH TV 8: Indianapolis News and Weather - Outrage Over Latest VA Security Breach

SEE VIDEO...........

Outrage Over Latest VA Security Breach

By Karen Hensel

INDIANAPOLIS - There is growing concern among thousands of Indiana veterans after another security breach at the VA hospital. A congressman is outraged, veterans are concerned and I-Team 8 is investigating why this keeps happening.

Part of the outrage comes because the three computers stolen from Roudebush VA Medical Center were taken over the Veteran's Day holiday weekend. Two personal computers and a laptop were stolen from an office and a medical treatment area. It's believed the thief left through the freight elevator.

Roudebush assures the veterans' personal information is encrypted. "It would take very expensive equipment and a high degree of computer knowledge to be able to break the strong password," said Susan Bowers, Director of Roudebush VA Medical Center.

One of the stolen computers contained the names, social security numbers and dates of service of the 12,000 veterans.

The Indianapolis breach is a priority in Washington.

As Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs committee, Congressman Steve Buyer conducted over 16 hearings on information technology after a VA latptop computer was stolen last year in Virginia putting nearly 28 million veterans at risk.

Buyer authored legislation last year that was signed into law by President Bush in December 2006. The legislation ensures veterans and their families affected are notified and aware of the steps they can take to protect themselves. The law also directs the VA to provide breach notification to individuals and their families effected, credit monitoring, fraud alerts, and identity theft insurance. The new law took effect in December.

"The more we are beginning to understand is this is information that never should have been portable, meaning that info should have been kept on a server, you can access the info but it can never be recorded in that hard drive," said Buyer.

Roudebush is now going through a security review.

Security breaches have happened at Roudebush before. I-Team 8 found hard drives at Goodwill four years ago full of veterans information and federal credit card numbers.

The FBI is investigating this latest breach.

Meanwhile, letters will be going out soon to all 12,000 veterans now at risk tonight of identify theft.

The new law requires the VA to offer credit monitoring and identity theft insurance as well.

The Federal Trade Commission recommends the following four steps in cases where personal data has been lost or stolen:

1. Contact one of the three major consumer reporting companies if you suspect fraud:
Equifax: 1-888-766-0008
Experian: 1-888-397-3742
Transunion: 1-800-680-7289

2. Close any accounts that have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.

3. File a police report with your local law enforcement where the identity theft took place.

4. File a complaint with the FTC by using the FTC's hotline at 1-877-438-4338 or online at consumer.gov.

Concerned Hoosiers may visit Congressman Buyer's website for information at stevebuyer.gov or call his office at 317-838-0404 or 202-225-5037.