Alcatel-Lucent makes security sales simpler

LONDON, NEWBURY, July 13th 2009: Converged Partner Programme gives resellers single contract covering the complete Alcatel-Lucent portfolio

Alcatel-Lucent is hoping to ramp up partners’ security and applications expertise with a streamlined partner programme and specialisations-based rebate structure.

The Converged Partner Programme will give resellers a single, standardised contract covering the vendor’s entire portfolio. The level of discount awarded to VARs will be determined by the number of specialisations they attain.

The UK is the first country to roll out the programme and partners will have a “grandfathering” period to get up to speed on the new regulations.

David Parker, Alcatel-Lucent’s vice president of enterprise activities for the UK and Ireland, said: “The old programme worked but it had become a bit clunky. We simplified it because the market is looking for a converged solution.”

The vendor has partner specialisations centred on six areas, including two in voice, one covering SME and another in enterprise. Applications, security and data are also covered and the sixth focuses on the QIP address management line-up developed by Lucent.

To obtain Certified partner status, resellers must achieve a specialisation in one of the six areas. To ascend to Expert level they must gain one advanced specialisation. Obtaining three advanced badges will secure Premium status.

Parker revealed that in 2009’s opening quarter, less than half of the vendor’s UK revenue came through voice products, compared to more than 75 per cent in 2008’s first three months.

“Our voice reseller base has embraced security at a rate that has surprised even me,” he said.

John Massey, managing director of Alcatel-Lucent partner Actimax, welcomed the shift.

“It recognises the change in the market and that resellers ought to be able to sell both voice and data,” he said.

How to Protect Your Laptop from Theft and Data Loss

Laptops have become one of those devices that is quickly going, and in some cases, already quickly gone from something that only techies or high level business people owned to something that even a poor college student finds a way to afford. This is simply that our lives become wrapped around these objects. Think of the cell phone. Ten to 15 years ago it was again only the techies or important business people that owned a cell phone. Now even elementary school kids have them so parents can be in constant contact when necessary.

We all have had the moment when we though we had misplaced our cell phone. Imagine losing your laptop. Not only is it a fairly significant expense, but think of the data you have on there. You probably keep a file with account numbers, you have your family pictures stored there, maybe music, movies. The list is a long one and an important one.

Therefore, make sure you follow the recommendations in this article on how to protect your laptop.

The convenience of the laptop is obvious. The computing power and versatility are equivalent to most desktop computers. With the advent of wi-fi we can be on the internet almost anywhere and be emailing, chatting, writing, surfing the net or shopping, all anywhere in the world.

Here are some daunting statistics for laptop loss from 2008:

Relevant Data Loss and Data Breach Statistics

* 1 in 10 ...laptop computers will be stolen within the first 12 months of purchase.
* 97% ...of lost and stolen notebooks are never recovered.
* 50% ...of organizations reported laptop theft.
* every 43 seconds ...a computer is reported stolen.
* every 3 days ... an information security breach is reported in the U.S.
* 82% ...of all PC's will be mobile devices by 2008, increasing 4 times as fast as PCs.
* 4,425 ...laptops reported left behind in Chicago taxis during a six month period.
* 56 million ...individuals affected by significant U.S. data security breaches, 2005.
* 1 billion ...PC users expected by 2010, up from 660-670 million today.
* 57% ...of corporate crimes are linked to stolen laptops. The latest crimes of espionage and sabotage are theft of executive personnel devices to access vital financial or personnel data. (data source: www.datarevoke.com)

How Much Does Laptop Loss Cost?:

That completely depends on how you look at it and who is doing the looking....

Personal Laptop:

The actual cost here is the cost of the laptop and if stolen while in the laptop bag (most often this is the case) then you've lost all your accessories as well. Not to mention possibly your wallet, MP3 player, passport (eek!). Obviously the actual cost of items and the intangible loss of items such as wallets, all your stored music, your passport, etc. are vastly different.

Business or Corporate Laptop:

Here the intangible costs can be astronomical. We have heard it on the news more than once and most of us have had it hit us directly with someone in the corporate world losing one or more laptops with critical customer data on it. The cost the hardware is only about $4000, the information carried upon it was could be worth millions..

Of course, to get to valuable proprietary information is not the reason for all laptop thefts some laptop thieves head try to quickly sell the laptop as-is. However, some data indicate that about 10 percent to 15 percent of those laptops are stolen by criminals intent on selling the data.

How to Protect Your Laptop:

With this in mind, what can we do as individuals to prevent our own personal loss?

Laptop Security Cables:

This is one of the lowest cost and one of the most effective deterrents to theft. As with most theft attempts, even a small amount of effort can make a huge difference. For this to work you need to make sure that your laptop is equipped with the appropriate feature to attach a cable. This is called a Universal Security Slot.

It is important to pay attention to what you are attaching the laptop and cable to. You sometimes have to think like a thief. If you really wanted to get that laptop could you? If you answer is yes, then you need to add more security. Consider looping the cable through a hole drilled in the lag of the desk. If you just loop it around the leg than all it takes is some one strong enough to lift the desk enough to slip the cable under the leg and whoosh! your laptop is gone...

Keep Your Laptop Out of Sight:

If you are not with your laptop then it should be secured in a locked drawer or in the possession of someone you trust (for the short trip to the restroom for example). Especially if you are in a public place like an airport, bookstore, or your favorite coffee shop. Never leave your bag alone.

Some laptop cases scream "I have a laptop in here!"

Try to use a carrying case for your laptop that may be a bit beat up or at least not look like it obviously contains a laptop. This may be difficult to do but can be a real effective way to have a thief move on to the next victim without bothering your precious laptop inside your ugly bag.

Another day, another laptop loss...

Yesterday it was a HSE laptop with sensitive financial information on the public. (Don’t forget the HSE has form - with multiple data losses just last year - and has now shown that it has broken its promise to encrypt all laptops containing sensitive personal information.)

Today it’s the turn of Bord Gáis to lose another unencrypted laptop containing bank account and credit card details of 75,000 customers.

We’ve been banging on about this for a while, but it’s worth repeating that in light of these fiascos, a law to warn you that your data has been stolen is long overdue:

At the moment, there is no legal obligation on a body which loses your personal information to notify you. This means that individuals may be unaware that sensitive information such as medical histories or financial records has been lost. It may be, for example, that the first you learn about it is when you go to the ATM and find that your account has been emptied.

What’s being done on this front at the moment? The Minister for Justice has kicked this issue to touch for the time being, setting up a working group to consider whether mandatory reporting should be introduced - and we’ve made submissions to that group. But if you want to see action taken sooner rather than later, now would be a good time to let your TDs (firstname.surname@oireachtas.ie) and MEPs (contact details here) know that you support a right to be warned when your data has been stolen.

Perhaps most importantly, you might want to ask yourself this question - if this is what happens to your financial information, what can you expect to happen to your email and web information if the government is allowed to continue with its plans for data retention?

MoD admits loss of secret files

A report said the MoD needed to improve some areas of data protection

More than 100 USB memory sticks, some containing secret information, have been lost or stolen from the Ministry of Defence since 2004, it has emerged.

The department also admitted that more than 650 laptops had been stolen over the past four years - nearly double the figure previously claimed.

The Liberal Democrats condemned the latest security breaches as evidence of "shocking incompetence".

But the MoD insisted its policies were "generally fit for purpose".

Previously the MoD had confirmed that 347 laptops were stolen between 2004 and 2007.

The Mod said it has no idea on when, where and how the memory sticks were lost.

Defence Secretary Des Browne issued revised figures after "anomalies in the reporting process" were discovered.

The official total is now 658 laptops stolen, with another 89 lost. Just 32 have been recovered.

Sarah Teather MP: This government simply cannot be trusted with keeping sensitive information safe

In a separate response, ministers said 121 of the department's USB memory sticks had been taken or misplaced since 2004.

Some 26 of those went this year - including three which contained information classified as "secret" and 19 which were "restricted".

BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said the incident was "embarrassing" for the MoD as they had no idea how or when they had been lost or stolen.

Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Teather received the information after tabling a question in parliament.

Ms Teather said: "It seems that this government simply cannot be trusted with keeping sensitive information safe.

"This shows a shocking degree of incompetence."

Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said: "To treat national security in such a cavalier fashion is unforgivable."

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said any loss of data was subject to a full inquiry and measures were being put into place to improve data protection.

This is the latest in a series of data loss incidents:

• November 2007 - Revenue and Customs officials lost the personal details of 25 million people

• June 2008 - A computer was stolen from the office of Communities Secretary Hazel Blears and files on counter-terrorism were left on a train

• January 2008 - The MoD revealed that one of its laptops - containing the details of 600,000 people - was stolen from a car

Ms Teather added: "How can they expect us to trust them to keep our personal information safe in their unnecessary and expensive ID card scheme?"

Last month the MoD was heavily criticised by a review of its data procedures which warned that basic security discipline had been forgotten and there was "little awareness" of the danger of losing information.

'Action plan'

But an MoD spokeswoman said officials were taking the situation very seriously: "Any loss of data is investigated fully.

"The recent report on data losses by Sir Edmund Burton found that MoD policies and procedures are generally fit for purpose, but also identified a number of areas where MoD needs to do better in protecting personal data.

"MoD has developed, and is now working through, an action plan to address all of the report's recommendations and bring the department's handling of personal data to an acceptable state."

Since the Burton report in June 2008 the MoD has recalled 20,000 non-encrypted laptops and are now encrypting them.

So far half have been through the process. About 2,000 are unable to be encrypted so have been taken out of service.

Source - BBC News

New data fiasco as Home Office loses the secret records of thousands of Britain's most dangerous criminals

Secret personal details of Britain's most dangerous criminals have been lost by the Government.

The public could now face an enormous bill to protect paedophiles, rapists, drug runners and killers from vigilantes or rival gangsters.

The names, addresses, details of convictions and even jail release dates of almost 130,000 people were all in Home Office files lost when a computer memory stick went missing.

'Livid': Home Secretary Jacqui Smith with a group of special constables on Wednesday. She learned of the missing data the day before

It was being used by an employee of a private contractor working for the department.

The astonishing security blunder plunges Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, who was told of the scandal on Tuesday, into the greatest crisis of her career.

Miss Smith informed the Metropolitan Police – who are now frantically hunting for the portable data storage device – but chose not to tell the public immediately.

It took the intervention of a whistleblower for details to emerge. The delay is likely to lead to damaging questions for the Home Secretary, whose mood last night was described by aides as 'livid'.

The Office of the Information Commissioner said the data – a list of all 84,000 prisoners in England and Wales, plus details of 43,000 most serious and persistent offenders – was a 'toxic liability'.

Tory spokesman David Ruffley warned of huge costs for taxpayers if criminals sue the Home Office for breaching their privacy and the Data Protection Act.

Another blunder: The Home Office are already responsible for losing sensitive information including the details of child benefit claimants

Mr Ruffley added: 'This shambles proves this accident-prone Home Secretary hasn't even got a grip of what goes on in her own building. Taxpayers will be absolutely outraged if they are made to pick up the bill for compensation to serious criminals.'

It is the latest in a string of cases where the Government has lost highly-sensitive data, most seriously the personal details of 25million child benefit claimants.

The latest shambles centres on a Whitehall project known as JTrack, to share details of the country's worst offenders.

A private firm working on the project, PA Consulting, was sent the convicts' personal details by the Home Office.

An employee of the company – which has Government contracts worth millions and has worked on the highly-sensitive ID cards project – placed the data, unencrypted, on the memory stick, which went missing at an unknown location.

The Home Office was told on Monday and Miss Smith informed on Tuesday. Officials are desperately hoping the data on the stick, worth many thousands of pounds to criminals, does not fall into the wrong hands or be made public.

The worst-case scenario is having to protect notorious criminals – such as sex offenders – at risk of vigilante attack.

Criticism: Shadow Home Secretary Dominic Grieve (left) and Tory spokesman David Ruffley have slammed the Government for their latest mistake

There are also fears of rival criminals, such as drug dealers, using the information to settle old scores, possibly even waiting in ambush outside prison gates.

Protecting these villains could cost millions and place an enormous strain on police resources.

But changing release dates would cause mayhem in crowded prisons. There is even the prospect of gang bosses obtaining the data and using it to recruit convicts with useful skills.

Shadow Home Secretary Dominic Grieve said: 'This is a massive failure of duty. What is more scandalous is that it is not the first time that the Government has been shown to be completely incapable of protecting the integrity of highly sensitive data, rendering them unfit to be charged with protecting our safety.'

David Smith, deputy commissioner for the Information Commissioner's Office, said: 'It is deeply worrying that after a number of major data losses and the publication of two government reports on high-profile breaches of the Data Protection Act, more personal information has been reported lost.

'It demonstrates that personal information can be a toxic liability if it is not handled properly.'

The Home Office said: 'Arrangements were in place for data to be sent securely to the contractor, in a fully encrypted form to a secure location. It appears that an employee of the contractor then transferred the data to an insecure memory stick.

'All transfer of data has been suspended pending investigation.'

PA Consulting had no comment last night. The company, which has 3,000 employees in 35 countries, was paid a reported £2million a month by the Passport Service for its work on ID cards.

Data loss firm contract axed

The information contained on a memory stick was not encrypted

A company which lost the details of thousands of criminals held on a computer memory stick has had its £1.5m contract terminated after an inquiry.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said PA Consulting had lost the data after it was transferred securely to the firm.

PA Consulting apologised for the loss of data and had accepted its "responsibilities".

The work had now been taken in-house and PA Consulting's other Home Office contracts, worth £8m, are under review.

The Cabinet Office will also launch a review of all contracts signed by the government with private companies to ensure they were "appropriate", said Ms Smith.

"Our contract had stipulated the sort of security provisions that needed to be in place and that had not happened," added the home secretary.

"We are cancelling this contract and we are urgently reviewing the way in which PA Consulting are meeting the requirements of other contracts we have with them.

"Our investigation has demonstrated that while the information was transmitted in an appropriately secure way to PA Consulting and fed to a secure site, it was subsequently downloaded on to an insecure data stick and that data stick was then lost."

Unlocked drawer

She said the memory stick had not been encrypted or "managed properly" and had not been found despite extensive searches.

RECENT LOSSES Nov 2007: 25m people's child benefit details, held on two discs Dec 2007: 7,685 Northern Ireland drivers' details Dec 2007: 3m learner drivers' details lost in US Jan 2008: 600,000 people's details lost on Navy officer's stolen laptop June 2008: Six laptops holding 20,000 patients' details stolen from hospital July 2008: MoD reveals 658 laptops stolen in four years When financial data goes missing Send us your comments

A risk assessment was being carried out about the data that was missing, alongside the internal inquiry into what had happened, she said.

And no more information was being passed to the firm while the investigation continued and the government was "reviewing the terms of that contract and other contracts" with PA Consulting.

The memory stick contained un-encrypted details about 10,000 prolific offenders as well as names, dates of births and some release date of all 84,000 prisoners in England and Wales - and 33,000 records from the police national computer.

Cancelling the contract will not cost the taxpayer and any expenses incurred will have to be met by PA Consulting, Ms Smith said.

The memory stick contained the details of 84,000 prisoners held in England and Wales.

The device also contained the names, addresses and dates of birth of 30,000 people with six or more convictions in the last year, as well as the names and dates of birth of 10,000 criminals regarded as prolific offenders, from the police national computer.

The loss of data on this project was caused by human failure, a single employee was in breach of PA's well-established information security processes PA Consulting

It also carried the initials of people on drug treatment programmes.

It was left in an unlocked drawer in an unsecured office at its offices in Victoria, central London.

The loss led to fears prisoners would attempt to claim compensation but Ms Smith reassured MPs that "appropriate measures are in place for individuals seeking information about the data held on them".

Critics say the mistake raises further doubts about the government's controversial ID card project, in which PA Consulting is involved.

Ms Smith said: "The inquiry that we have carried out ... suggests that the most likely thing to have happened was that the data stick was pilfered or lost.

"I think (PA Consulting) recognise that what they have done is against the terms of their contract."

'Apologise unreservedly'

In its first public statement on the data loss incident, a spokesman for PA Consulting said: "The loss of data on this project was caused by human failure, a single employee was in breach of PA's well-established information security processes.

"We deeply regret this human failure and apologise unreservedly to the Home Office."

He said the firm had carried out an examination of all of its government and private sector projects which handle sensitive data.

"Our review has confirmed that, apart from in this isolated incident, we are fully compliant with robust policies and procedures and are achieving high levels of information assurance across all of our work," the spokesman added.

Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Tom Brake accused minister of trying to escape criticism for data losses by "making scapegoats out of private companies".

"Barely a week goes by without the government being embroiled in another data cock-up, and yet ministers remain intent on pressing ahead with their Orwellian plans for a national identity register.

"The Government has proved it cannot be trusted with even basic information, let alone with something as intrusive and excessive as the ID cards scheme."

At the weekend, it emerged that another private contractor, EDS, mislaid a computer disc carrying personal details of thousands of employees of the National Offender Management Service in July last year.

Alcatel-Lucent Expands Encryption, VPN Capabilities of OmniAccess 3500 Nonstop Laptop Guardian

Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris: ALU) (NYSE: ALU) today announced new data encryption and virtual private network (VPN) features for its OmniAccess 3500 Nonstop Laptop Guardian (NLG) laptop security and management system that improve the security of data residing on laptops.

Invented by Bell Labs and incubated by Alcatel-Lucent Ventures, the OmniAccess 3500 NLG, is the first comprehensive solution that reduces laptop security breaches, delivering 'always-on' connectivity for visibility and control over laptops on a 24/7 basis -- even when the laptop is turned off.

The features are available in a new release of the OmniAccess 3500 software and include:

--  Full hard-disk encryption integration framework -- All full disk
 encryption (FDE) vendors are now able to integrate with the OmniAccess 3500
 NLG. This will enhance vendor encryption solutions with the capability to
 remotely manage encryption keys and provide a second-factor of
 authentication when the laptop is turned off or is offline. Keys and second-
 factor authentication are stored on the NLG card and can be remotely
 deleted to make the hard disk inaccessible in case of a lost or stolen
 laptop. This capability closes an important security loop, as laptop data
 can not be accessed without the management controls enforced by the
 OmniAccess 3500 NLG. Together with NLG's GPS location capabilities --
 security and manageability are now upgraded.

--  Industry first Active Smartcard for Windows and pre-boot
 authentication -- Many FDE solutions require a Smartcard to be used for
 encryption keys -- a solution that can't be updated over a network. The NLG
 now emulates a Smartcard, but allows IT administrators to create,
 invalidate, revoke, and reissue the Smartcard or its PIN securely over the
 air and on the fly for faster response and lower administration costs.

--  SSL VPN access -- This capability gives NLG users another secure
 option for using a VPN while visiting a customer or partner location. In
 addition to the built-in IPSec VPN, NLG now supports secure switch over to
 web-based SSL VPN if used by customers' IT. This capability keeps the
 always-on VPN solution that defines the NLG solution intact, while allowing
 end-users the freedom to use SSL when needed.

--  Multiple user support -- This option allows multiple end-users to
 share a single NLG-protected laptop, without compromising security.

--  Mid-range gateway -- Alcatel-Lucent has scaled the back-office NLG
 gateway to fit the needs of companies with up to 500 NLG users. This new
 server supports Business Partner and carrier demand to provide a cost-
 effective solution for these mid-sized companies.
 

"NLG continues to innovate in the space of mobile security. The interactive Smartcard capabilities are truly unique in the market," said Tom Burns, COO of enterprise activities for Alcatel-Lucent. "Our customers are reacting very positively to the NLG and we believe these new features help to ensure that the NLG remains the most comprehensive endpoint security solution on the market. With our new mid-range gateway (at a reduced cost), we have put the product within reach of mid-sized customers and have dramatically increased our addressable market."

"With these and previous new feature developments in the OmniAccess 3500 NLG, Alcatel-Lucent has elevated NLG's attractiveness," states Michael Suby, Director of Stratecast (a Division of Frost & Sullivan). "These enhancements deliver to enterprises what they need the most: flexibility to tailor security technologies to meet their unique device and information protection objectives."

With this solution, IT departments are able to enforce policies for compliance, protection and recovery of stolen devices, and deliver patches and upgrades to an increasingly mobile workforce anytime, anywhere, thereby increasing productivity and efficiency. In addition to other channel partners, Alcatel-Lucent is working with Sprint to deliver the OmniAccess 3500 NLG as part of a complete wireless enterprise solution.

Availability

OmniAccess 3500 Nonstop Laptop Guardian solution includes PCMCIA cards for laptops and a management server. The product is packaged with 3G services and sold through wireless service providers and Alcatel-Lucent Business Partners. Nonstop Laptop Guardian is currently available through Alcatel-Lucent channels in North America, including Sprint, and will launch in Europe in Q3 2008.

About the OmniAccess 3500 Nonstop Laptop Guardian

The core technology of the OmniAccess 3500 NLG consists of a secure, always-on computing system that is available for IT even when the laptop is turned off. Residing on a 3G broadband PCMCIA data card which includes a separate secure operating system and battery, which operates with any broadband network, including 3G, Ethernet or WiFi. When a laptop is connected to a network, the card seamlessly transitions connectivity to the corporate network through automatic VPN capabilities, ensuring that all traffic, regardless of data connection type, passes directly through the corporate network's protections, filters and policy managers before accessing the Internet.

MoD Data Security Report Released

According to a investigation carried out for the Ministry of Defence by Sir Edmund Burton, new recruits to the armed forces belonging to the so-termed “Facebook generation” failed to take adequate data security measures.

MoD Laptop Thefts

Sir Edmund, Information Advisory Council Chairman, was asked to look into the issue of security following the theft of a number of MoD laptops, of which one occurred at the beginning of 2008.

In a stark report, Burton asserted that the MoD’s Cold War data security ethics had disappeared, with “little awareness” of the importance of security within its employees.

Consequently, a significant event involving security had, he said, been “inevitable.”

The 2008 laptop theft occurred from a vehicle parked in Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK. On it were records relating to 600,000 service personnel and armed forces applicants.

It was subsequently discovered that, between 2004 and 2008, a total of four laptops had been stolen in similar circumstances.

MoD Data Protection Act Obligations

Combined, said Sir Edmund, the losses pointed to a “failure of supervision”, with a “very limited understanding“ of the ministry’s obligations in connection with the Data Protection Act.

"During the Cold War, awareness of real security was ingrained in individuals and organisations", the report stated. "Audit, inspection and compliance regimes were rigorously underpinned by codes of discipline.

"These well-developed processes and procedures have not been translated, effectively, into the information age.

"Generally, there is little awareness of the current, real, threat to information, and hence to the department's ability to deliver and support operational capability.

"Consequently, there can be little assurance that information is being effectively protected."

New Military Recruits

Sir Edmund highlighted the “Facebook generation” that new recruits belonged to.

Young British military personnel, he said, were accustomed to the “rapid and often uninhibited exchange of information."

“At work, this behaviour must be tempered by common sense and sound judgment, informed by data protection practice, and the particular concerns of MoD work.

"However, returning to the strict information control of the type applied to paper documentation of 15 or more years ago is not considered practical in the modern working and cultural environment."

Personal Record Access

The MoD, said Burton, had sought to implement up-to-date working methods, especially within Personnel, with better access to personal records.

However, "one consequence of embracing this new data sharing culture has been a decline in overall departmental security practice.”

Senior officials, Sir Edmund wrote, "shared a concern that the younger generation of MoD staff are not inculcated with the same culture of protecting information as their counterparts from previous generations."

In all, 51 suggestions for improvement were listed, among them, the setting-up of a “coherent system of censure and punishment" for those responsible for losing or compromising the security of personal information – a system flexible enough to apply to different severities of loss.

Source – Armed Forces International’s Political Correspondent

Bosses' insolvency data is stolen

Police are investigating the burglary, which occurred on 28 August

A laptop computer containing personal details of 385 former directors of insolvent companies has been stolen, the Insolvency Service has said.

It has written to those it believes may have been affected by the theft of equipment from its Manchester offices.

One of four laptops stolen from the government agency contained information on the directors from 122 firms.

This loss is the latest in a long line of cases where confidential information has been lost or stolen.

Greater Manchester Police are investigating the burglary, which happened on 28 August.

Those affected by the theft include former company directors, insolvency practitioners and people who were named in documents, including creditors, complainants, investors and employees.

The Insolvency Service said 385 ex-company directors had been affected and also about 150 people with a connection to the firms.

Information on the company directors included name, address, date of birth and occupation. No bank account details were held.

In relation to the creditors, complainants and employees, the data included name, address, and bank account details in a small number of cases.

Telephone helplines

A spokeswoman for the Insolvency Service, which investigates corporate failures to see if particular company directors were at fault, said none of the insolvent companies concerned was a "household name".

She said most of them were "small and medium-sized companies".

Several dedicated telephone helplines have been set up and anyone who has concerns should go to the Insolvency Service website to find the appropriate contact number.

A statement from the Insolvency Service said: "The information consisted of documents sent to the Insolvency Service by insolvency practitioners who act as administrators, receivers or liquidators of insolvent companies.

"The documents, which are required to be sent by law, included information about the activities of company directors which the insolvency practitioner considers may give cause for concern."

Earlier this month, the government confirmed that a portable computer hard drive holding details of up to 5,000 justice system employees had been lost in July 2007.

In August, Home Office contractor PA Consulting admitted losing a computer memory stick containing information on all 84,000 prisoners in England and Wales.

And in June, a senior intelligence officer from the Cabinet Office was suspended after documents were left on the seat of a commuter train from London Waterloo.

The seven-page file, classified as "UK Top Secret", contained a report entitled "Al-Qaeda Vulnerabilities" and an assessment of the state of Iraq's security forces. A passenger later handed the file to the BBC.

MoD laptop stolen from McDonalds

MoD staff are banned from taking unencrypted laptops out of offices

The Ministry of Defence says a laptop has been stolen from a member of the military as he was eating in McDonalds.

The computer was taken from under the Army captain's chair, near the MoD's Whitehall headquarters on 1 April, according to the Sun newspaper.

The MoD said the data on the laptop was not sensitive, and was fully encrypted.

It comes after a laptop holding details of 600,000 people who applied to join the armed forces was stolen from a car in Edgbaston, Birmingham, in January.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said that police were investigating the theft.

It comes after the government tightened the rules on employees taking computers out of work.

Whitehall staff are now banned from taking unencrypted laptops or drives containing personal data outside secured office premises.

Source - BBC News