Costly data losses

Released 12/03/2009

Lost USB and memory sticks are costing millions

Lost memory sticks are one of the fastest growing threats to business security in the UK, according to experts.

Careless staff are losing more mobile gadgets, laptops, USB memory sticks, Blackberrys and i-Phones than ever before.

An estimated 9,000 USB sticks are lost every year at UK dry cleaners alone according to a survey by security firm Credant Technologies. BlockMaster, a security firm puts the global figure of lost USB sticks at around 20 million.

In the latest incident, Lothian and Borders Police revealed this week that an unencrypted USB stick containing vehicle registrations and other information has gone missing. The USB stick, last seen by staff in the road policing division at Lothian and Borders headquarters, was lost between December 2008 and January this year.

Jim Watson, managing director of Shred Easy, the company that securely destroys confidential data for clients including Marks & Spencer and Kellogg's said lost USB sticks are a major threat:

"The safest way to stop the leakage of confidential data to criminals is to avoid excessive use of USB sticks. As they get smaller they are getting easier to lose.

"Too many businesses make the mistake of allowing their entire staff access to their confidential data. Data can be downloaded to a mobile device at the click of a button. Although USB sticks can be bought for as little as £5 the value of the data held on them can run into millions.

"Old laptops and hard drives are the biggest worry. Discarding them with rubbish, donating them to charity or giving them away poses a massive risk but we hear of it all too often. The only way to safely dispose of gadgets and hardware is to have it securely destroyed by a professional company."

Return to news

Discuss this in our forum