HMRC Data discs on EBay
Quite possibly the funniest infosec joke seen in 2007.
Here we have two CD-R’s for auction. They are not blank, but seem to have some sort of database written to them. I found them in my local courier firm’s sorting office, addressed to
“Her Majesties Audit Office – Child Benefits Section” and marked
“Sensitive HM Government Information – DO NOT LOSE – ENSURE THESE DISKS DO NOT FALL INTO THE HANDS OF THE CRIMINAL FRATERNITY”
They were obviously surplus to requirements.
I haven’t read the data myself. The database appears to have approximately 25 milion records in it, but is password protected, so it is impossible to read it and it’s definitely impossible to extract any bank account data from it.
El Reg has it all.
Funny, but I gotta go with XKCD’s ;drop tables 🙂